Florida has seen a high number of mass shootings in 2023, as reported by the Gun Violence Archive. The state recorded 30 mass shootings, resulting in 38 deaths and 134 injuries. This marks a slight decrease from the 31 mass shootings in both 2021 and 2022. Nationally, the United States experienced its second-highest total of mass shootings in 2023, with 656 incidents reported, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Despite the high number of mass shootings, the overall deaths and injuries from gun violence in 2023 showed an 8-10% decrease, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organization noted that some cities are seeing more than a 20% decrease in gun violence incidents.
In terms of the most affected states, Texas led the way with 65 reported mass shootings, followed by Illinois with 51 and California with 50. Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and Louisiana also reported a significant number of mass shootings.
In total, 42,926 people died from gun violence in the United States in 2023, with 18,836 classified as homicide, murder, or defensive gun use (DGU). Additionally, 24,090 deaths were ruled to be suicides.
In 2022, there were 648 mass shootings in the United States, resulting in 44,299 deaths overall, including 314 children and 1,361 teenagers. Of those deaths, 20,209 were due to homicide, murder, or defensive gun use (DGU). The Gun Violence Archive also reported 38,552 injuries from gun violence incidents in 2022.
Overall, Florida has been deeply affected by mass shootings in recent years, with the state consistently ranking among the top 10 in the number of incidents reported. The impact of these tragedies is far-reaching, with significant implications for public health and safety nationwide.