Homicides surged in the U.S. by nearly 30% in 2020, the largest annual increase since record keeping began. The same year, U.S. firearm sales hit an all-time high of nearly 23 million, increasing 24% from 2019, according to consulting firm Small Arms Analytics. (Here is a look at the states with the most gun purchases per person.)
The record gun sales at the same time that a spike in murders occurred may be more than mere coincidence. Based on local police department data compiled by the FBI, an estimated 77% of murders were committed with a firearm in 2020. In some states, guns were involved in nearly 90% of homicide cases.
Using data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the most murders are committed with a gun. States are ranked by the share of homicides in 2020 that involved a gun, from the smallest to the largest.
It is important to note that in many states, not all reported homicides have an associated weapon type, and only states for which at least 75% of murders had an associated weapon were considered for this story. As a result, five states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania – were excluded from analysis.
Nationwide, handguns are by far the most commonly used firearm in murder cases. In most states, more murders are committed with a handgun than every other type of firearm combined.
States in which firearms are used for a larger than average share of murders also tend to have higher than average murder rates. In eight of the 10 highest ranking states on this list, the homicide rate exceeds the national rate of 6.5 murders for every 100,000 people. (Here is a look at America’s most violent and peaceful states.)
Click here to see the states where the most murders are committed with a gun.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
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45. South Dakota
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 40.8%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 13
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 5
> Murder rate, 2020: 4.5 homicides per 100,000 people (20th lowest)
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44. Hawaii
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 41.0%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 5
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 9
> Murder rate, 2020: 2.9 homicides per 100,000 people (6th lowest)
Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
43. North Dakota
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 45.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 5
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 1
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 6
> Murder rate, 2020: 4.2 homicides per 100,000 people (19th lowest)
Source: specnaz-s / iStock via Getty Images
42. Alaska
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 45.8%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 16
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 4
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 2
> Murder rate, 2020: 6.7 homicides per 100,000 people (21st highest)
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41. Montana
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 49.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 16
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 1
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 11
> Murder rate, 2020: 5.0 homicides per 100,000 people (21st lowest)
Source: DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images
40. New Hampshire
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 50.0%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 3
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 3
> Murder rate, 2020: 0.9 homicides per 100,000 people (the lowest)
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39. Washington
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 59.4%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 102
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 6
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 5
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 64
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.9 homicides per 100,000 people (16th lowest)
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38. Nevada
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 62.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 77
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 26
> Murder rate, 2020: 5.7 homicides per 100,000 people (25th lowest)
37. New Mexico
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 63.3%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 29
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 4
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 53
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.8 homicides per 100,000 people (13th highest)
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36. Idaho
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 64.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 18
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 5
> Murder rate, 2020: 2.2 homicides per 100,000 people (3rd lowest)
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35. Vermont
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 64.3%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 6
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 3
> Murder rate, 2020: 2.2 homicides per 100,000 people (4th lowest)
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34. New York
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 64.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 415
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 5
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 6
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 91
> Murder rate, 2020: 4.2 homicides per 100,000 people (18th lowest)
33. Nebraska
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 66.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 31
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 3
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 6
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 1
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.6 homicides per 100,000 people (14th lowest)
32. Oklahoma
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 67.5%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 140
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 4
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 7
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 46
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.4 homicides per 100,000 people (16th highest)
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31. West Virginia
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 67.6%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 38
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 7
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 21
> Murder rate, 2020: 6.6 homicides per 100,000 people (23rd highest)
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30. Maine
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 68.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 10
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 5
> Murder rate, 2020: 1.6 homicides per 100,000 people (2nd lowest)
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29. Arizona
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 68.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 219
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 14
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 56
> Murder rate, 2020: 6.9 homicides per 100,000 people (20th highest)
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28. Colorado
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 68.9%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 141
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 8
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 1
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 52
> Murder rate, 2020: 5.1 homicides per 100,000 people (22nd lowest)
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27. New Jersey
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 69.6%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 156
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 71
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.7 homicides per 100,000 people (15th lowest)
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26. Connecticut
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 70.0%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 23
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 75
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.9 homicides per 100,000 people (17th lowest)
Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images
25. Oregon
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 70.5%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 43
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 5
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 1
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 37
> Murder rate, 2020: 2.9 homicides per 100,000 people (7th lowest)
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24. Kansas
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 70.8%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 31
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 6
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 23
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.4 homicides per 100,000 people (12th lowest)
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23. Utah
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 72.8%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 43
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 19
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.1 homicides per 100,000 people (10th lowest)
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22. California
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 72.9%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 1032
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 41
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 31
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 502
> Murder rate, 2020: 5.6 homicides per 100,000 people (24th lowest)
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21. Massachusetts
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 73.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 64
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 1
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 52
> Murder rate, 2020: 2.3 homicides per 100,000 people (5th lowest)
20. Wisconsin
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 74.9%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 85
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 2
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 7
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 133
> Murder rate, 2020: 5.3 homicides per 100,000 people (23rd lowest)
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19. Rhode Island
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 75.0%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 4
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 0
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 20
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.0 homicides per 100,000 people (8th lowest)
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18. Minnesota
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 75.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 79
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 5
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 6
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 52
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.4 homicides per 100,000 people (11th lowest)
17. Iowa
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 75.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 33
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 3
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 5
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 43
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.5 homicides per 100,000 people (13th lowest)
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16. Arkansas
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 76.3%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 104
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 14
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 114
> Murder rate, 2020: 10.6 homicides per 100,000 people (4th highest)
15. Ohio
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 76.8%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 269
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 4
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 6
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 321
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.0 homicides per 100,000 people (19th highest)
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14. Texas
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 77.4%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 751
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 63
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 34
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 643
> Murder rate, 2020: 6.6 homicides per 100,000 people (22nd highest)
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13. North Carolina
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 78.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 325
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 25
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 8
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 222
> Murder rate, 2020: 8.0 homicides per 100,000 people (11th highest)
Source: SETH HERALD / AFP via Getty Images
12. Indiana
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 78.5%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 246
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 8
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 110
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.5 homicides per 100,000 people (15th highest)
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11. Michigan
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 79.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 237
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 30
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 325
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.6 homicides per 100,000 people (14th highest)
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images News via Getty Images
10. Virginia
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 80.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 212
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 11
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 197
> Murder rate, 2020: 6.1 homicides per 100,000 people (24th highest)
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9. Maryland
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 81.6%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 354
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 10
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 34
> Murder rate, 2020: 9.1 homicides per 100,000 people (9th highest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
8. Missouri
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 82.9%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 265
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 17
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 3
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 185
> Murder rate, 2020: 11.8 homicides per 100,000 people (2nd highest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
7. Kentucky
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 84.5%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 155
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 18
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 2
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 86
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.2 homicides per 100,000 people (18th highest)
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6. South Carolina
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 84.5%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 240
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 13
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 5
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 195
> Murder rate, 2020: 10.5 homicides per 100,000 people (5th highest)
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
5. Louisiana
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 85.1%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 242
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 26
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 6
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 319
> Murder rate, 2020: 15.8 homicides per 100,000 people (the highest)
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4. Tennessee
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 85.4%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 234
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 24
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 12
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 296
> Murder rate, 2020: 9.6 homicides per 100,000 people (6th highest)
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3. Wyoming
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 85.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 10
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 1
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 1
> Murder rate, 2020: 3.1 homicides per 100,000 people (9th lowest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Illinois
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 86.7%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 762
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 9
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 0
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 125
> Murder rate, 2020: 9.1 homicides per 100,000 people (8th highest)
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1. Delaware
> Share of homicides committed with a gun, 2020: 89.2%
> Homicides committed with a handgun: 32
> Homicides committed with a rifle: 3
> Homicides committed with a shotgun: 1
> Homicides committed with an unclassified firearm: 30
> Murder rate, 2020: 7.4 homicides per 100,000 people (17th highest)
Methodology
To identify the states where the most murders are committed with a gun, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. States are ranked by the share of homicides that were committed with a firearm in 2020.
In many states, not all reported homicides have an associated weapon type, and only states for which at least 75% of murders had an associated weapon were considered. As a result, five states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania – were excluded from analysis.
We also considered the homicide rate – or the total number of homicides committed in 2020 for every 100,000 people in a given state – as reported by the FBI.
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