Nationwide Gun Violence Down Significantly in 2025 — But Second Amendment Defenders Must Stay Vigilant
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For the first time since the pandemic, shooting inside the United States have dropped to pre-pandemic levels. Per The Trace, we have not seen a decline like this years. Prior to the pandemic, gun violence was falling at a pretty steady pace before jumping in 2020. According the Gun Violence Data hub, shootings fell 14% from 2024 to 2025.
There are some main indicators that showcase this decline. First, this is a four year trend of decline since it peaked in 2021. Overall shootings dipped below 15,000 for the first time since 2018. Non-fatal injuries also fell from 31,800 in 2024 to 26,237 in 2025 marking an 18% decline. Also, 41 states saw a decline in gun deaths including the District of Columbia (this excludes suicides which is a mental health issue).
Perhaps the biggest news, bucking the narrative that Bruen would lead to more gun deaths, mass shootings in which four or more people are shot, decrease 19%. These have fallen to a nearly two-decade low in 2025. These are all promising signs that gun violence is trending down in the United States. This does defy critics who have pushed back on the restoring of gun rights in America.
It’s important to note that The Trace data does not include firearm suicides, which typically represent more than half of all gun deaths in the U.S. Generally speaking, these deaths are mental health related and not violence related and thus deserve a different category.
These trends, however, do provide further insight to what us in the pro-2nd Amendment arena have been saying.
1. Gun ownership and lawful carry do not inherently drive long-term increases in violent crime. The data show broad declines in shootings even as gun sales have softened compared to pandemic highs — contradicting narratives that suggest more legal gun ownership inevitably fuels gun violence.
2. Policy responses should be grounded in facts, not fear. Appreciating nuanced trends helps separate real public safety challenges from political rhetoric that seeks to exploit worst-case incidents to justify sweeping restrictions.
As we look ahead to the future, we can at least admit when it come to violence in the U.S. it is a complicated issue. As far as policy goes, there is no one law that will fix it. Most importantly, ALL laws and policy proposals must be weighed and measured against the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Violating the rights of the majority because of the malfeasance of the minority is not the answer. It also will never guarantee safety. As the debate over firearm policy continues, this trend should encourage policymakers, law enforcement, and community leaders to pursue solutions that respect constitutional rights while addressing violence where it occurs.
State & Local Trends Show Widespread Declines in 2025
According to The Trace’s year-end Gun Violence by the Numbers in 2025, several key measurements show notable declines in shootings and gun violence across the country:
Shooting deaths (excluding suicides) fell by 14 percent, dropping from nearly 17,000 in 2024 to 14,651 in 2025 — the lowest total since 2015.
Non-fatal shooting injuries declined by almost 18 percent, with 26,237 reported cases, the lowest in over a decade.
41 states saw fewer gun deaths (excluding suicides) in 2025 versus 2024 — a majority of the nation.
The number of children and teenagers shot dropped 15 percent, with 4,458 young people wounded or killed.
Mass shootings — incidents in which at least four people are shot — decreased by 19 percent compared with 2024. These improvements cut across red and blue cities alike. In a separate Trace analysis of 150 major U.S. cities, researchers reported one of the largest multi-year drops in gun violence ever recorded, with declines evident in homicides, shootings, and non-fatal firearm injuries in 2025.
Regional Highlights & Major Cities
Even where gun violence historically trended higher, recent data paint an encouraging picture:
Washington, D.C. saw total homicides fall 32 percent in 2025 — a second straight year of declines.
New York City reached historic lows in gun violence, with fewer shooting incidents in 2025 than at any time in decades.
In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose reported homicide levels not seen in decades, with significant declines throughout 2025.
Baltimore saw nearly a 60 percent reduction in homicides over five years, with continued violence drops in 2025.
Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical, we are about providing education on firearms, firearm statistics, and the meaning of the 2nd Amendment. We believe that education and understanding the historical reasons for our rights is the best way to preserve them. When you are shopping in our store for your next every day carry (EDC) or fun plinking towy, always remember the reason why we have these rights. As The Trace (which is not a pro-gun publication) demonstrates, many of the narratives around guns are incorrect.
We often are told firearm ownership equates violence. However, as the above data shows, that simply is not true. There are more guns in circulation now that at anytime in American history and the numbers are going DOWN not up. The spike in 2020 to 2021 had to do with criminality surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic and not firearm ownership in general.
We here at 2 If By Sea will continue to fight for our rights daily. We are also here to help you exercise them. We look forward to seeing you in our shop or shooting in our range. Be sure to check out one of our many classes and get trained and educated.
Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world. As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube Channel @2ifbyseatactical and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance.
Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.
