Minnesota Gun Violence Statistics u0026 Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Minnesota, 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. From the Twin Cities metro area to Greater Minnesota communities, we work with organizations across the Land of 10,000 Lakes to help address the most critical security scenarios – especially active shooter events.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Minnesota and offer our insight on the limitations of traditional security systems for preventing casualty events. We’ll also look at how our own AI security technology can help keep people safer.
Where Does Minnesota Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Minnesota rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #30
525 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 30 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #43
8.9 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Minnesota
- Minneapolis
- St. Paul
- Brooklyn Park
- Rochester
- St. Cloud
Top 5 Safest Cities in Minnesota
- Montevideo
- West Hennepin
- Corcoran
- South Lake Minnetonka
- La Crescent
Significant Mass Shooting Events in Minnesota’s Recent History
Even in Minnesota, where residents pride themselves on being prepared for harsh winters and emergencies, the reality of mass casualty events from gun violence requires vigilance. 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.
Annunciation Catholic Church Shooting (2025)
A person opened fire through the windows of a church, killing two and injuring 27 others, mostly children.
Minneapolis Shooting (2024)
A man in a Whittier neighborhood killed three people, including a responding officer, and wounded three more before being killed by police.
Burnsville Shooting (2024)
While responding to a domestic incident, three first responders were shot and killed, before the shooter fatally shot themselves.
Minnesota’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Minnesota takes a moderate approach to gun violence prevention, balancing public safety concerns with Second Amendment rights.
Minnesota gun laws include:
- Universal background checks for handgun purchases and permits to carry
- Permit-to-purchase requirements that create a waiting period and allow local law enforcement to conduct more thorough vetting
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag laws) enacted in 2023 that allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others
- Domestic violence firearm restrictions that prohibit abusers from possessing guns
- Community violence intervention programs that provide funding for evidence-based initiatives in high-risk communities, particularly in the Twin Cities metro area.
Minnesota maintains gun death rates below the national average, though urban gun violence—particularly in Minneapolis and St. Paul—remains a persistent challenge.
While the state’s background check and permit systems have helped prevent some prohibited individuals from obtaining firearms, advocates on both sides debate whether current measures strike the right balance between prevention and rights.
Why Minnesota Needs Help Why Minnesota’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 Minnesota Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in Minnesota. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Minnesota Gun Violence Statistics
How many people die from gun violence in Minnesota each year?
In 2024, 564 Minnesotans died from gun violence. In 2023, an estimated 525 people died from gun-related injuries, including homicides, suicides, accidents, and other incidents where a shooting was the primary cause of death.
What percentage of gun deaths are suicides versus homicides?
Of the 564 gun deaths in 2024, 26% were homicides, while 72% were suicides.
How does Minnesota’s gun death rate compare to the national average?
Minnesota’s overall firearm death rate of 8.9 per 100,000 was the lowest among Great Lakes states in 2023. The national gun death rate was 13.7 per 100,000 people in 2023, meaning Minnesota’s rate is significantly lower than the U.S. average. However, the percent increase in gun homicides from 2014 to 2023 was the 6th highest in the country.
Which demographics are most affected by gun violence in Minnesota?
The majority of gun violence decedents (89%) were male. From 2021-2023, people ages 18-24 made up 21.8% of gun violence victims but only 8.8% of the state’s population, while youth ages 15-17 made up 6.5% of victims but only 4% of the population. Veterans made up 19% of suicide victims. In 2023, males accounted for 90.6% of gun suicides and 81.9% of gun homicides.
Are gun deaths increasing or decreasing in Minnesota?
Firearm homicides in Minnesota were 117% higher in 2022 than in 2018, increasing from 66 to 143, while suicide deaths by firearm increased 13% from 2018 to 2022, rising from 356 to 402. However, in Minneapolis specifically, weapon law violations dropped nearly 17% from 944 to 783, and violent crimes like assault and robbery are down compared to both last year and the three-year 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-minnesota/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions
- https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/07/29/gun-violence-deaths-increased-in-first-year-of-minnesota-red-flag-law
- https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-from-gun-related-injuries-in-the-us-each-month/state/minnesota/
- https://dps.mn.gov/safe-secure/Pages/Statistics.aspx
- https://vpc.org/press2/new-report-reveals-gun-violence-trends-in-minnesota-530-lives-lost-in-2023/
- https://vpc.org/press/new-six-year-report-reveals-ongoing-toll-of-lethal-gun-violence-in-minnesota/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/gun-violence-data/state-gun-violence-data/minnesota
- https://dps.mn.gov/safe-secure/Pages/Statistics.aspx
- https://www.minnpost.com/race-health-equity/2024/04/gun-violence-impacting-minnesota-youth-and-young-adults-at-higher-rates/
- https://vpc.org/press2/new-report-reveals-gun-violence-trends-in-minnesota-530-lives-lost-in-2023/
- https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/firearms/index.html
- https://quickcountry.com/ixp/1172/p/minneapolis-mn-crime-2025/
