Alaska Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Alaska, and what can employers and facility managers realistically do to keep their people safe?
At Omnilert, we specialize in AI security software and emergency notification systems. We work with organizations throughout Alaska—from Anchorage to Fairbanks and remote communities across the Last Frontier—to help prepare for worst-case security scenarios, including active shooter events in challenging Arctic conditions.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Alaska and offer our insight on the limitations of traditional security systems for preventing casualty events in Alaska’s unique environment. We’ll also examine how our AI security technology can help keep people safer across Alaska’s vast distances and extreme weather conditions.
Where Does Alaska Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Alaska rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #42
176 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 42 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #5
23.5 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Safest Cities in Alaska
- Unalaska
- Sitka
- Homer
- Palmer
- Kenai
Significant Mass Shooting Events in Alaska’s Recent History
Alaska, despite its remote geography, has not been exempt from the reality of mass casualty events resulting from gun violence. A mass shooting event, as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, describes an incident in which four or more people are injured by a firearm in one location around the same time.
Bethel Regional HS Shooting (1997)
A student shot and killed two people and wounded two others before surrendering to police.
Manley Hot Springs Shooting (1984)
A man killed seven residents of a remote Alaskan village at a boat landing. After a manhunt, the gunman shot two state troopers pursuing him in a helicopter, killing one, before he was shot and killed by a third trooper.
Russian Jack Springs Park Shooting (1982)
A schizophrenic man left a psychiatric hospital on a day pass and killed four teenagers in a park before being arrested.
Alaska’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Alaska takes a relatively permissive approach to gun regulations compared to many other states, which shapes its framework for addressing gun violence: The state puts a strong emphasis on Second Amendment rights, acting as a constitutional carry state. Allowing residents 21 and older to carry concealed firearms without a permit.
It also imposes no waiting periods for firearm purchases, enabling immediate transactions once background checks are completed.
The state does comply with federal laws prohibiting firearm possession by individuals convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors or subject to protective orders.
Some of the regulation in Alaska includes:
- Minimal Restrictions
- No Waiting Periods
- Limited Assault Weapon Regulations
- Domestic Violence Provisions
- Focus on Enforcement over Prevention
Alaska focuses on prosecuting firearm-related offenses while tackling root causes such as mental health issues and substance abuse. However, the state struggles with elevated gun death rates, especially suicide deaths in rural communities, making it one of the nations’s deadliest states for firearm fatalities per capita.
Why Alaska Needs Help Why Alaska’s Facilities Need Better Security Solutions to Prevent Gun Violence
Most security systems today operate with inherent limitations that make them less practical for preventing a determined active shooter. On that front, these systems are better at documenting incidents than they are at actually preventing violence.
Limitations of traditional security systems for shooter prevention:
- Surveillance cameras only help with investigations after incidents occur
- Gunshot detection waits until someone’s already shooting
- Manual monitoring fails because humans can’t watch dozens of feeds effectively
- Emergency response protocols depend on someone being available to activate them
In other words, by the time traditional systems kick in, it’s often too late.
How Omnilert Can Help Using Military-Inspired AI Technology to Detect Firearms Before Shots are Fired
When seconds matter most, AI visual gun detection can identify firearms before shots are fired. Military-grade technology like Omnilert’s can integrate with your existing cameras to protect your facility and enact an automated emergency response if a threat is detected.
By themselves, security cameras can’t prevent what they can’t predict. Omnilert brings gun detection technology to facilities across the United States to transform your existing surveillance into an active threat prevention system. Instead of documenting incidents after they happen, AI-powered visual detection spots firearms the moment they appear and triggers immediate response protocols.
Benefits of Omnilert Engaging a Full-Scale Emergency Response to Active Shooters
If an imminent, active threat is confirmed, there’s no time to waste. Facilities that use Omnilert initiate an automated response across multiple technologies to help protect as many lives as possible.
Instant Notifications
Multi-channel emergency notifications instantly alert staff, security, and law enforcement.
Automated Response
Automated response workflows that trigger lockdown procedures, activate alarms, and more.
Mobile Alerts
Mobile applications that keep staff informed and connected during emergencies.
Alarm Activation
Use audio and video systems to sound alarms and deliver clear safety instructions.
Access Control
Lock or unlock doors to contain threats, secure exits, and protect vulnerable areas.
Custom Response
Engage a fully-custom response using your existing security technology.
Law Enforcement
Notify local police of an active threat or verified security incident.
Liability Protection
Omnilert’s DHS SAFETY Act designation offers liability protection.
Protecting Spaces Everywhere What Types of Alaskan Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in Alaska. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Alaska Gun Violence Statistics
How does Alaska rank nationally for gun deaths?
Alaska had the fifth highest gun death rate among the states in 2023, with a rate of 23.5 deaths per 100,000 people. The overall gun death rate in Alaska increased by 22% from 2014 to 2023
How many people die from gun violence in Alaska each year?
In an average year, 175 people die from gun violence in Alaska, meaning someone dies from gun violence every two days.
In an average year, 175 people die from gun violence in Alaska, meaning someone dies from gun violence every two days.
In an average year, 175 people die from gun violence in Alaska, meaning someone dies from gun violence every two days.
What percentage of gun deaths in Alaska are suicides versus homicides?
Seventy-one percent of gun deaths in Alaska are gun suicides, and 22% are gun homicides. Alaska had the 3rd highest gun suicide rate in the country overall in 2023 and the state’s gun suicide rate was 16.0 per 100,000 people
Which demographic groups are most affected by gun violence in Alaska?
In 2023, white men aged 34 and older represented approximately 19% of Alaska’s population yet comprised 42% of all firearm suicide fatalities. Additionally, Alaska recorded the nation’s highest rate of gun suicides among American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
How does gun violence affect children and teens in Alaska?
Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens in Alaska, with an average of 22 children per year killed due to firearm-related mortality, and 59% of these deaths are gun suicides.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/firearms.html
- https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/explainer
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-alaska/
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/alaska/
- https://vpc.org/state-firearm-death-rates-ranked-by-rate-2023/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/gun-violence-data/state-gun-violence-data/alaska
- https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/blog/alaska-gun-laws-what-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/alaska/
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/alaska/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/
- https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?session=32&docid=91988
