Iowa Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Iowa, 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 Iowa – from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids, Davenport to Sioux City – to help prepare for worst-case security scenarios, including active shooter events.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Iowa and offer our insight on the limitations of traditional security systems for preventing casualty events. We’ll also examine how our AI security technology can help protect Iowa’s workplaces, schools, and communities.
Where Does Iowa Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Iowa rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #35
341 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 35 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #41
10.5 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Iowa
- Davenport
- Cedar Rapids
- Sioux City
- Des Moines
- Waterloo
Top 5 Safest Cities in Iowa
- Sioux Center
- Asbury
- Norwalk
- Polk City
- North Liberty
Significant Mass Shooting Events in Iowa’s Recent History
Like communities across the heartland, Iowa faces 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.
Perry High School Shooting (2024)
A seventeen-year-old student shot five students and three staff members before killing himself.
University of Iowa Shooting (1991)
A former graduate student attended a meeting for a research group before opening fire and killed five individuals and injured one before committing suicide.
Iowa’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Iowa has taken a permissive approach to gun regulation, becoming a constitutional carry state in 2021 and repealing several longstanding gun safety measures. Rather than restricting access, Iowa’s legislative focus has centered on expanding gun rights while maintaining basic federal compliance standards.
Iowa’s gun legislation includes:
- Constitutional carry allowing both open and concealed carry without a permit for residents and non-residents
- Lowering the minimum age to purchase and possess handguns from 21 to 18 years old
- Recognition of all valid permits from other states
- Allowing local school boards to decide whether licensed teachers can carry firearms on school property
- Federal background check requirements for purchases through licensed dealers.
Gun safety advocates characterize Iowa as having weak gun laws after repealing fundamental policies, though comprehensive data on the direct impact of these recent changes remains limited given their relatively recent implementation.
Why Iowa Needs Help Why Iowa’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 Iowa Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in Iowa. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Iowa Gun Violence Statistics
How many people die from gun violence in Iowa each year?
An estimated 341 people died from gun-related injuries in Iowa in 2023, and in an average year, 343 people die from gun violence in the state, meaning someone dies from gun violence every 26 hours.
What percentage of gun deaths in Iowa are suicides versus homicides?
Seventy-eight percent of gun deaths in Iowa are gun suicides, and 19% are gun homicides.
How does Iowa’s gun death rate compare to other states?
In 2023, Iowa had the tenth lowest gun death rate among the states, with about 10.5 out of every 100,000 people dying from gun-related injuries. However, the rate of gun deaths in Iowa has increased over the past decade, more than the nationwide increase.
Are there racial disparities in Iowa gun violence?
Yes. Black people in Iowa are 14 times as likely to die by gun homicide than their white counterparts, and young Black males ages 15-34 made up 0.8% of the total population but 32% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023.
How has Iowa’s gun death rate changed in recent years?
In Iowa, the rate of gun deaths increased 59% from 2012 to 2021, compared to a 39% increase nationwide. Prior to 2020, Iowa saw relatively low rates of gun violence compared with the rest of the United States, ranking 43rd in gun violence in 2019 with 9.1 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 people—25 percent lower than the national average.
Sources
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/deaths/firearms.html
- https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/explainer
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-iowa/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/live-updates-active-shooting-perry-high-school-rcna132235
- https://usafacts.org/articles/the-latest-government-data-on-school-shootings/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States
- https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/public-mass-shootings-database-amasses-details-half-century-us-mass-shootings
- https://dps.iowa.gov/press-release/2024-01-05/update-perry-high-school-shooting-investigation
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/18/us/iowa-school-shooting-report-perry
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/us/perry-iowa-school-shooting-friday/index.html
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/iowa/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions
