Missouri Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Missouri, 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 St. Louis to Kansas City and communities across the Show-Me State, we work with Missouri organizations to help address the most critical security scenarios – especially active shooter events.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Missouri and offer our insight on the limitations of conventional security systems for preventing casualty events. We’ll also examine how our AI security technology can help protect people in workplaces, schools, and facilities throughout the state
Where Does Missouri Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Missouri rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #12
1,324 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 12 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #10
21.4 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Missouri
- St. Louis
- Kansas City
- Springfield
- Columbia
- Independence
Top 5 Safest Cities in Missouri
- Glendale
- Cottleville
- Greenwood
- Savannah
- Odessa
Significant Mass Shooting Events in Missouri’s Recent History
Despite its heartland location, Missouri faces the same sobering reality as the rest of the nation when it comes to 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.
Kansas City Parade Shooting (2024)
Gunfire erupted during a parade at Kansas City Union Station to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII. At least one person was killed and more than twenty others were injured. Three male suspects were detained, two of whom are juveniles.
Central Vision & Performing Arts HS Shooting (2022)
A former student, opened fire, killing two people and wounding four others.
Springfield Shooting (2020)
A man committed a series of random drive-by shootings before crashing his vehicle at a gas station. He entered the business, where he killed four people and wounded two others.
Missouri’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Missouri has taken a permissive approach to gun regulation, prioritizing Second Amendment rights over restrictive measures.
- Constitutional carry, allowing residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit since 2017
- The Second Amendment Preservation Act, which attempts to nullify federal gun laws the state deems unconstitutional
- No universal background check requirements for private gun sales
- Stand-your-ground laws that remove the duty to retreat before using deadly force
- Minimal restrictions on assault weapons or high-capacity magazines
Missouri has one of the highest gun death rates in the nation, ranking among the top 10 states for firearm mortality, with particular concerns about gun homicides in St. Louis and Kansas City. While supporters argue these policies protect constitutional rights and individual freedoms, critics point to rising gun violence rates as evidence that the permissive approach has failed to make communities safer.
Why Missouri Needs Help Why Missouri 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-Grade 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 active threat is confirmed at your Missouri facility, there’s no time to waste. The situation calls for an immediate and complete emergency response. 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 Missouri Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in Missouri. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Missouri Gun Violence Statistics
What is Missouri’s gun death rate compared to other states?
In 2023, approximately 21.4 out of every 100,000 people in Missouri died from gun-related injuries, which was 56% higher than the overall US rate. In 2023, Missouri had the tenth highest gun death rate among the states, with an average of 1,381 people dying from gun violence annually—meaning someone dies from gun violence every six hours. Missouri has the 8th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US, with a rate of 17.5 per 100,000 people based on a five-year average from 2019-2023.
What types of gun deaths are most common in Missouri?
Fifty-three percent of gun deaths in Missouri are suicides, and 43% are homicides. In 2023, 96% of gun-related deaths in Missouri were either suicides or homicides, with about 56% being suicides.
How has Missouri’s gun death rate changed over time?
In Missouri, the rate of gun deaths increased 40% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, the 2007 repeal of Missouri’s permit-to-purchase law led to a 25+% (* some research shows as much as up to a 47% increase) in firearm homicides and a 23.5% increase in firearm suicides, resulting in 49 to 68 additional firearms deaths each year over the following decade.
Which communities in Missouri are most affected by gun violence?
Young Black males ages 15-34 made up 1.7% of Missouri’s population but accounted for 37% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023, and they were 29 times as likely to die by firearm homicide than their white counterparts. Missouri had the 2nd highest gun homicide rate among Black people, with Black people being 19 times as likely to die by gun homicide than white people. In 2023, the highest rate of gun-related deaths in Missouri occurred in St. Louis city, at 45.4 per 100,000 people.
How does Missouri rank for unintentional shootings by children?
Missouri ranks 4th in the nation for the highest rates of unintentional shootings by children, with 129 unintentional shootings by children occurring from 2015-2023. The states with the highest rates of unintentional shootings by children—Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, and Alabama—have weak or no firearm storage laws.
Sources (as of December 23, 2025)
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-missouri/
- https://usafacts.org/answers/how-many-people-die-from-gun-related-injuries-in-the-us-each-month/state/missouri/
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/missouri/
- https://waveedfund.org/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/gun-violence-data/state-gun-violence-data/missouri
- https://everytownsupportfund.org/press/everytown-releases-new-research-highlighting-2023-as-worst-year-for-unintentional-shootings-by-children-missouri-is-national-leader-sees-some-of-the-highest-rates-of-unintentional-shootings-by-child/
