Florida experienced 30 mass shootings in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. This is a slight decrease from the 31 mass shootings recorded in both 2021 and 2022. Nationwide, the United States saw a total of 656 mass shootings in 2023, the second-highest number in history, following 690 in 2021 and surpassing 647 in 2022.
The Gun Violence Archive reported an 8-10% overall decrease in deaths and injuries from gun violence in 2023. However, there were at least 20 mass shootings over Memorial Day weekend and seven over the July 4th weekend. The state of Florida accounted for 30 of the total reported mass shootings, resulting in 134 injuries and 38 fatalities. By the end of February, Florida accounted for nearly 12% of all mass shootings in the country, but its average was later reduced to 4.57% by the end of the year.
In 2023, Florida saw several violent incidents, including a range of shootings from Miami to Gainesville. However, a surge in mass shootings, especially in Texas, contributed to a decrease in Florida’s overall percentage of mass shootings in the United States.
The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter. The organization’s data indicated that there were 42,926 gun violence-related deaths in the U.S. in 2023, with 297 of them being children and 1,383 involving teenagers aged 12-17. Additionally, 50 law enforcement officers were killed, and 368 were injured in gun-related incidents.
In conclusion, Florida was among the top ten states with the most reported mass shootings in 2023. The impact of gun violence continues to be a major concern, with a high number of fatalities and injuries reported nationwide.