Majority of Americans Experience Some Form of Gun Violence in Person

Rutgers researchers conduct a national study on racial disparities in direct and media-based exposure among U.S. adults

Nearly two-thirds of adults in the U.S. have experienced some form of in-person exposure to gun violence, according to a national study by Rutgers researchers tracking racial disparities in direct and media-based experiences.

This study, published in the Lancet Regional Health – Americas, examines how frequently U.S. adults are exposed to gun violence, both in person and through media, based on data from a nationally representative sample. It looks at who is most affected based on their race, income, and the neighborhoods they live in.

Researchers surveyed 8,009 adults throughout the U.S. to find out how often people experience gun violence, whether directly (such as being shot) or indirectly (such as hearing gunshots nearby). They also looked at how participants frequently see or hear about gun violence through TV, newspapers and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The study compared these experiences across different racial and income groups, using advanced statistical methods to ensure accurate results.

According to the study, 64% of U.S. adults have experienced some form of in-person gun violence exposure. Black and Hispanic adults are significantly more likely than White adults to report being shot, threatened with a gun, witnessing a shooting or knowing someone who has been shot.

Gun violence exposure isn’t just about being a victim. It touches people through what they see, hear and experience, especially in Black and Hispanic communities. These exposures accumulate and damage health over time.

Daniel Semenza

Director of research, New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center

In addition to these direct experiences, more than half of Americans say they frequently encounter gun violence that happens outside their communities through conventional media, while one in three are exposed often through social media channels. Black adults reported the highest levels of exposure across both social and conventional media platforms.

“This is a public health crisis hiding in plain sight,” said Daniel Semenza, director of research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and associate professor in the Departments of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, and Urban-Global Public Health. “Gun violence exposure isn’t just about being a victim. It touches people through what they see, hear and experience, especially in Black and Hispanic communities. These exposures accumulate and damage health over time.”

The findings illustrate racial disparities such that white adults are more often exposed to firearm suicide, while Black and Hispanic adults are much more likely to witness shootings or know someone who has been shot.

The researchers said gun violence exposure in the U.S. is widespread and extends beyond direct victimization to include hearing, witnessing, and knowing others affected, as well as frequent exposure through media. They added that stark racial and economic disparities persist, with Black and Hispanic adults and those in disadvantaged neighborhoods facing significantly higher rates of all forms of exposure.

Policymakers and public officials must prioritize efforts to reduce gun violence exposure and mitigate its effects in order to build healthier communities, the researchers said.

Explore more of the ways Rutgers research is shaping the future.