The Highest Rates of Gun Homicides Are in Rural Counties

By Chandler Hall

Since gun homicides in America spiked in 2020 and peaked in October 2021, much of the reporting related to gun violence has centered around the nation’s big cities. Forgotten in this conversation is how rural America is similarly dealing with the crisis of gun violence. Gun violence anywhere is unacceptable—whether in our largest cities, suburbs, or smallest communities. And when half of all shootings occur outside of large cities, focusing exclusively on individual cities comes at the expense of achieving meaningful and long-lasting safety for all Americans. Instead of politicizing crime and community violence, we must recognize that gun violence is a uniquely American public health crisis that harms every community, regardless of size or political leanings.