New Hampshire Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in New Hampshire, 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 across New Hampshire – from the seacoast to the North Country – to help solve for the worst case security scenarios, especially active shooter events. In a state that values personal freedom and self-reliance as much as its “Live Free or Die” motto suggests, security concerns require a balanced approach that respects independence while prioritizing safety. Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in New Hampshire and offer our insight on the limitations of traditional security systems for preventing casualty events.
We’ll examine how our AI security technology can help keep people safer across New Hampshire’s diverse settings, from manufacturing facilities and tech companies drawn by the state’s no-income-tax environment to schools, healthcare facilities, and hospitality venues serving the state’s year-round tourism industry.
Where Does New Hampshire Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does New Hampshire rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #43
814 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 23 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #42
19.9 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in New Hampshire
- Newport
- Manchester
- Claremont
- Portsmouth
- Concord
Top 5 Safest Cities in New Hampshire
- Nottingham
- Deerfield
- Atkinson
- Chester
- Rye
Significant Mass Shooting Events in New Hampshire’s Recent History
While New Hampshire consistently ranks among the safest states in the nation, no community is immune to 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.
Colebrook Shooting (1997)
After killing two New Hampshire State troopers in a supermarket parking lot, a gunman drove to the office of a district judge, killing her and a newspaper editor who attempted to disarm him. Police pursued the gunman to Vermont, where he wounded four more police officers in a gunfight before being killed by police.
New Hampshire’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
New Hampshire takes a minimal regulatory approach to firearms, the state’s philosophy aligns with its “Live Free or Die” motto, emphasizing personal freedom and responsibility over government regulation.
- No permit required for concealed carry for anyone not prohibited under federal law
- No regulation of assault weapons
- State preemption prevents cities and towns from enacting their own gun regulations
- Prohibitions limited primarily to convicted felons and those under protective orders
- High rates of gun ownership with relatively few restrictions on purchase or possession.
Gun safety advocates describe New Hampshire as having “the weakest gun laws in New England”, while proponents argue the approach respects constitutional rights and individual liberty. New Hampshire had the 9th lowest gun death rate in the country in 2023, and the state’s violent crime rate has dropped every year since 2017 when constitutional carry was enacted. However, 87% of gun deaths in the state are suicides, and the rate of gun deaths increased 11% from 2014 to 2023, suggesting the approach may be more effective at limiting criminal gun violence than preventing self-harm.
Why New Hampshire Needs Help Why New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in New Hampshire. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About New Hampshire Gun Violence Statistics
How many people die from gun violence in New Hampshire each year?
In an average year, 141 people die by guns in New Hampshire, though in 2024, an estimated 152 people died from gun-related injuries. More than 150 people in New Hampshire died by gun violence in 2019, an average of three people every week.
What percentage of gun deaths in New Hampshire are suicides versus homicides?
In 2024, 88% of gun-related deaths in New Hampshire were suicides. In 2019, suicides were 85% of the gun deaths and homicides were 13%. Over 10% of gun deaths were homicides in 2019.
How does New Hampshire’s gun death rate compare to the national average?
New Hampshire had the 9th lowest gun death rate in the country in 2023, and in 2024, the rate of gun-related deaths in New Hampshire was 20% lower than the overall rate of gun-related deaths in the US. Age-adjusted firearm homicide rates range from a high of 14.4 per 100,000 in Washington, DC, to a low of 1.1 per 100,000 in New Hampshire.
Who is most at risk for gun violence in New Hampshire?
White males over the age of 34 accounted for nearly 27.2% of the population in New Hampshire but 66% of all gun suicide deaths in 2023, and 43% percent of all gun suicide deaths in 2023 were over the age of 54. Males were six times as likely to die by gun suicide than females from 2019 to 2023.
Has New Hampshire’s gun death rate increased or decreased over time?
The overall gun death rate increased by 10% from 2014 to 2023. However, New Hampshire’s violent crime rate has dropped every year since 2017 when Gov. Chris Sununu signed a law doing away with concealed carry permits, falling from 195.7 incidents per 100,000 people in 2017 to 146.4 per 100,000 in 2020.
Sources (as of December 23, 2025)
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.areavibes.com/nh/most-dangerous-cities/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-hampshire/
- https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-new-hampshire/
- https://reolink.com/blog/new-hampshire-crime-rate/
- https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/nh/crime
- https://www.movoto.com/guide/nh/most-dangerous-places-in-new-hampshire/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States_by_state
- https://www.safehome.org/safest-cities/nh/
- https://rockinst.org/gun-violence/mass-shootings-by-region/
- https://efsgv.org/state/new-hampshire/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-hampshire/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions
- https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/tables/table-8/table-8-state-cuts/new-hampshire.xls
- https://wisevoter.com/state-rankings/mass-shootings-by-state/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Drega
- https://preventfirearmsuicide.efsgv.org/
- https://www.safehome.org/safest-cities/nh/
- https://www.nhpr.org/tags/mass-shootings
- https://www.healthdata.org/
- https://www.concordnh.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=5207
- https://nhjournal.com/
