Oregon Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Oregon, 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 Oregon—from Portland’s tech corridors and healthcare facilities to outdoor recreation companies, universities, and rural workplaces—to help address critical security challenges, especially active shooter events.
Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Oregon 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 keep your people safer across Oregon’s diverse communities and industries.
Where Does Oregon Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Oregon rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #27
642 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 27 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #26
14.2 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Oregon
- Portland
- Gresham
- Eugene
- Salem
- Hillsboro
Top 5 Safest Cities in Oregon
- West Linn
- Sandy
- Canby
- Milwaukie
- Lake Oswego
Significant Mass Shooting Events in Oregon’s Recent History
Despite the Pacific Northwest’s reputation for progressivism, Oregon has experienced its share 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.
Bend Safeway Shooting (2022)
A local man shot four people, two fatally, in a Safeway supermarket at the Forum shopping center.
Normandale Park Shooting (2022)
During a racial justice protest, a man confronted a group of protestors and engaged in an argument with them, before pulling out a gun and opening fire, killing one and wounding four others.
Umpqua Community College Shooting (2015)
A student at Umpqua Community College killed nine people and injured eight others on the college campus.
Oregon’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Oregon has passed a broad range of gun safety laws in recent years. The state emphasizes a multi-faceted approach combining regulation, prevention, and community intervention.
- Permit-to-purchase requirements and licensing processes that strengthen background checks, which Oregon voters approved in 2022 through Measure 114
- Restrictions on rapid fire devices like bump stocks and Glock switches, along with bans on high-capacity magazines
- Prohibition on untraceable ghost guns and 3-D printed guns, enacted in 2023
- Extreme risk protection laws, strengthened domestic violence protections, and investment in community violence intervention programs
- Mandatory 72-hour waiting periods before firearm purchases to address Oregon’s high firearm suicide rate, where 77% of gun deaths are suicides
Oregon’s gun death rate increased 22% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide. Researchers studying similar policies elsewhere suggest that permit-to-purchase laws have shown 20% to 30% reductions in gun homicide and suicide within 10 years of implementation, as demonstrated in Connecticut.
Why Oregon Needs Help Why Oregon 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 Oregon 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 Oregon Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
Oregon’s gun death rate increased 22% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide. Researchers studying similar policies elsewhere suggest that permit-to-purchase laws have shown 20% to 30% reductions in gun homicide and suicide within 10 years of implementation, as demonstrated in Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Oregon Gun Violence Statistics
How many people die from gun violence in Oregon each year?
In 2024, an estimated 663 people died from gun-related injuries in Oregon, representing a rate of approximately 14.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Looking at the five-year period from 2019 to 2023, Oregon averaged 625 firearm deaths annually, with roughly 77% attributed to suicide and 20% to homicide.
What is the breakdown of gun deaths—suicide versus homicide?
In 2024, approximately 79% of Oregon’s gun-related deaths were suicides, while 97% of all gun deaths were either suicides or homicides. In 2021, 670 people in Oregon were killed by firearms, with firearm-related death rates 28% higher than Washington and 50% higher than California.
Which groups are disproportionately affected by gun violence in Oregon?
Black people were 11 times as likely to die by gun homicide than white people, and 54% of all gun homicide deaths in 2023 were young people ages 15-34. White males over age 34 accounted for 23% of Oregon’s population but 58% of all gun suicide deaths in 2023. Black males aged 15-34 have a firearm homicide rate 10 times higher than white males of the same age group.
How has Portland’s gun violence situation changed recently?
The number of shootings in Portland has declined nearly 35% since July 2022, when the monthly shooting average was 116; it is now 76 shootings per month. In the first six months of 2024, Portland saw homicides drop 17% compared to the first half of 2023.
How many mass shooting events has Oregon experienced?
Of the 24 mass shootings the Gun Violence Archive has recorded since 2014, 18 occurred in the Portland metro area. Between 2018 and 2021 alone, there were 71 incidents involving multiple injuries or deaths in Portland, with 18 of those qualifying as mass shootings using the Gun Violence Archive’s definition of four or more shot or injured. Oregon has had 19 mass shootings since 2020.
Sources (as of December 23, 2025)
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-oregon/
- https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2023/09/21/oregon-mass-shootings-drop
- https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-gun-laws-mass-shootings-timeline/283-b92fd8ac-17da-4035-ad35-576447733a57
- https://www.supermarketnews.com/foodservice-retail/deadly-shooting-at-oregon-safeway-claims-three-lives
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mass_shootings_in_Oregon
- https://www.npr.org/2022/01/15/1073323357/six-people-have-been-injured-in-a-mass-shooting-in-oregon
- https://www.opb.org/tag/school-shootings/
- https://coef.ceasefireoregon.org/firearms-and-covid-19/
- https://damorelaw.com/portland-oregon-mass-shooting-incidents-legal-insights-for-victims/
