Wyoming Gun Violence Statistics & Prevention
How can we measure the impact of gun violence in Texas, and what can employers and facility managers realistically do to keep their people safe?
Wyoming faces unique gun safety considerations shaped by its frontier heritage, vast rural distances, and deeply ingrained gun culture. With the nation’s highest gun ownership rate and constitutional carry laws, measuring gun violence impact here requires understanding both the statistical reality and the cultural context. For employers and facility managers in Wyoming’s small communities and isolated workplaces—from mining operations to tourist facilities near Yellowstone—the challenge isn’t just about implementing security, it’s about doing so in ways that respect local values while genuinely protecting people across enormous geographical distances where emergency response times can stretch to an hour or more.
At Omnilert, we specialize in AI security software and emergency notification systems designed for Wyoming’s unique landscape. We work with organizations across the state—from university campuses in Laramie to energy sector facilities in the Powder River Basin—to solve worst-case security scenarios, especially active shooter events in remote locations. Here, we provide objective information about gun violence in Wyoming and offer insight on why traditional security approaches often fall short in rural, spread-out environments. We’ll also examine how our AI security technology can help keep people safer even when help is far away, adapting to Wyoming’s distinct challenges of low population density, extreme weather, and limited infrastructure.
Where Does Wyoming Rank in Gun Violence?
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics conducts an annual survey of firearm mortality by state. So where does Wyoming rank for gun violence amongst all fifty states?
Gun Related Deaths: #44
130 fatalities in 2023, ranking them number 44 of 50.
Population-Based Death Rate: #9
21.5 gun-related deaths per 100,000 people.
Top 5 Most Dangerous Cities in Wyoming
- Riverton
- Cheyenne
- Casper
- Evanston
- Torrington
Top 5 Safest Cities in Wyoming
- Riverton
- Cheyenne
- Casper
- Evanston
- Torrington
Wyoming’s Approach to Limiting Gun Violence
Wyoming’s approach to gun violence focuses almost exclusively on suicide prevention rather than regulatory measures, reflecting the state’s unique challenge where 86% of gun deaths are suicides rather than homicides.
- 988 Crisis Lifeline – Established the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through state legislation, with ongoing work to secure sustainable funding and two in-state call centers
- Voluntary Safe Storage Programs – Distribution of free gun locks through Project ChildSafe and temporary storage options at participating gun shops and law enforcement agencies, focusing on reducing access during crisis periods
- Statewide Training Networks – Comprehensive suicide prevention training programs (CALM, QPR, SafeTALK, PROSPER) for healthcare providers, educators, first responders, faith leaders, and community members across all 23 counties
- Community Prevention Specialists – State-funded prevention coordinators in each county working on upstream prevention efforts and local coalition building
- Mental Health Task Force & State Plan – Governor-led task force and the Wyoming State Suicide Prevention Plan (2024-2028) coordinating efforts across public and private sectors to address the state’s persistently high suicide rate
Wyoming’s suicide prevention efforts are showing some early signs of progress, with mental health professionals reporting positive changes in response and prevention efforts and the state dropping from the nation’s highest suicide rate to third-highest by 2022-2023. However, the impact remains modest as the state still faces significant challenges with gun suicide rates that are 81% higher than the national average.
Why Wyoming Needs Help Why Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming Industries Are Vulnerable to Gun Violence?
We provide our security platform to all kinds of industries in Wyoming. Each environment has its own security challenges, but the core need remains the same: early threat detection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Common Questions About Wyoming Gun Violence Statistics
What is Wyoming’s gun death rate and how does it compare nationally?
Wyoming had the 9th highest gun death rate in the country in 2023, and in an average year, 139 people die from gun violence in the state, meaning someone dies from gun violence every 2.5 days. The state has consistently ranked in the top 10 for gun death rates nationally.
What percentage of Wyoming’s gun deaths are suicides vs. homicides?
Eighty-six percent of gun deaths in Wyoming are suicides, and 10% are gun homicides. In fact, Wyoming had the highest gun suicide rate in the country overall in 2023, making suicide prevention the state’s primary gun violence challenge.
What is Wyoming’s gun ownership rate?
Wyoming has the nation’s highest gun ownership rate at approximately 66-69%. Wyoming has the highest rate of household gun ownership, with 68.8 percent, which significantly exceeds the national average and correlates with the state’s high gun death rate.
How has Wyoming’s gun death rate changed over time?
The overall gun death rate increased by 33% from 2014 to 2023, matching the national trend. The rate of gun deaths increased 32% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide, showing Wyoming’s gun violence problem is growing at roughly the same pace as the rest of the country.
Who is most at risk for gun violence in Wyoming?
White males ages 75+ are at highest risk for firearm suicide in Wyoming.. This demographic pattern reflects the state’s rural character, aging population, and social isolation factors that contribute to elevated suicide risk among elderly men.
Sources (as of December 23, 2025)
- https://everytownresearch.org/report/city-data/
- https://www.roadsnacks.net/most-dangerous-cities-in-wyoming/
- https://www.worldatlas.com/cities/9-best-places-to-live-in-nevada-in-2025.html
- https://www.southwestjournal.com/us/wyoming/most-dangerous-cities-in-wyoming/
- https://www.newhomesource.com/learn/10-safest-cities-nevada/
- https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/wy/crime
- https://www.gvpedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wyoming-Mass-Shootings-State-Fact-Sheet-1.pdf
- https://www.roadsnacks.net/most-dangerous-cities-in-wyoming/
- https://www.southwestjournal.com/us/wyoming/most-dangerous-cities-in-wyoming/
- https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-wyoming/
- https://www.newhomesource.com/learn/safest-cities-wyoming/
- https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions
- https://giffords.org/lawcenter/gun-laws/states/wyoming/
- https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-wyoming/
- https://vpc.org/when-men-murder-women-wyoming/
- https://preventfirearmsuicide.efsgv.org/
