Firearms were used in 86% of attacks (n = 43)
Firearms were used in most attacks (n = 43, 86%).
Sample (n = 43 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Firearms were used in most attacks (n = 43, 86%)
NCIER®
Firearms
24 claims on pp. 13–94 (fact 6, statement 6, evidence 10, definition 2).
Claims about Firearms
Handguns were used in 33 attacks
The firearm use included handguns in 33 attacks.
This included the use of handguns (n = 33)
Long guns were used in 10 attacks
The firearm use included long guns in 10 attacks.
and long guns (n = 10)
Divorce-dispute shooter: fled police and fired from apartment at responding officers
After fleeing police, the attacker positioned a rifle at his apartment window and fired at responding officers, killing one.
Afterward, the attacker fled from police, drove to his apartment, positioned a rifle at his window, and fired at responding law enforcement, killing one officer.
Table 2: Firearms used in 43 attacks (86%)
Table 2 reports that a firearm was used in 43 attacks (86%).
Sample (n = 43 of 50) · incidents (attacks) in the study
Firearm | 43 | 86%
Divorce-dispute shooter retrieved a handgun from his car after his wife refused; she escaped
When his wife refused, the attacker retrieved a handgun from his car while she escaped.
When she refused, the attacker retrieved a handgun from his car while his wife escaped.
One attack ended when the weapon ran out of ammunition
One attack ended after the attacker's weapon ran out of ammunition.
One attack ended after the attacker's weapon ran out of ammunition.
Gunman barred by felony convictions threatened ex-girlfriend into supplying firearms
Although barred from owning firearms by prior felony convictions, the attacker threatened his ex-girlfriend until she supplied the guns used in the attack.
Although the attacker could not legally own firearms due to his prior felony convictions, he threatened his ex-girlfriend until she provided him with the firearms he ultimately used in his attack.
Man with two handguns killed five colleagues at work, then himself
A 51-year-old man armed with two handguns shot and killed five colleagues at his workplace before fatally shooting himself.
A 51-year-old man armed with two handguns shot and killed five colleagues at his workplace before fatally shooting himself.
Terminated employee killed one and injured three at a manufacturing facility
A man with a semiautomatic handgun killed one and injured three others at a manufacturing facility before dying by suicide. He had been fired after missing three days of work and had complained of coworker harassment that continued after his transfer.
The gunman had previously been terminated by the facility after missing three days of work
Manufacturing facility gunman killed one and injured three, then died by suicide
A 53-year-old man opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun at a manufacturing facility, killing one and injuring three others before dying by suicide.
A 53-year-old man opened fire with a semiautomatic handgun at a manufacturing facility, killing one and injuring three others before dying by suicide.
38-year-old man killed five in a newsroom with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun
In a case example, a 38-year-old man entered a newsroom and opened fire with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, killing five people.
A 38-year-old man entered a newsroom and opened fire with a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, killing five people.
43-year-old gunman took two hostages outside his ex-girlfriend's healthcare workplace
In a case example, a 43-year-old gunman armed with a shotgun and a pistol took two hostages in the woods outside the healthcare center where his ex-girlfriend worked.
A 43-year-old gunman, armed with a shotgun and a pistol, took two hostages in the woods outside of a healthcare center where his ex-girlfriend worked.
Warehouse employee blocked exit with forklift, shot coworkers, then died by suicide
A warehouse employee used a forklift to block an exit before shooting coworkers with a revolver. On a call to police he described hearing voices since his teens, past treatment for psychosis, and a belief that a manager was attacking his mind.
used a forklift to block an exit before shooting coworkers with a revolver
Access to weapons covers current or future ability to obtain harmful weapons
Access to weapons is the current or future ability to access weapons that could be used to cause harm, including firearms, bladed weapons, explosives, chemicals, and poisons.
Current or future ability to access weapons that could be used to cause harm
Weapon access may include relatives' or friends' homes
Access to weapons may include weapons readily available at home, secured or unsecured, as well as weapons in the homes of relatives or friends.
Access to weapons may include those that are readily available to the individual in their home, whether secured or unsecured, as well as those accessible in the homes of relatives or friends
Why inferred Descriptive 'may include' scope statement; typed as guidance.
Oct 2017 manufacturing-facility attack: illegally bought firearm despite felony record
To protect himself, the attacker purchased a firearm, which was illegal for him because of felony convictions on his record, and reportedly kept it with him at all times.
To protect himself, the attacker purchased a firearm illegally due to felony convictions on his criminal record and reportedly kept the weapon with him at all times.
Examples: schedule changes, facility access limits, law enforcement, firearm limits
Examples include changing an employee's schedule when staff conflict, restricting an individual's facility access, engaging local law enforcement for support, and limiting access to firearms when permitted by law and consistent with constitutional protections.
Some strategies for creating a situation less prone to violence include changing an employee's schedule when there are conflicts among staff
ERPOs are civil court orders restricting firearm purchase by at-risk persons
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are civil court orders used to temporarily restrict a person's access or ability to purchase firearms if they pose a risk of harm to themselves or others.
ERPOs are civil court orders used to temporarily restrict a person's access or ability to purchase firearms if the person poses a risk of harm to themselves or others.
ERPO (red flag) laws exist in over 20 states, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands (as of 2026)
As of 2026, over 20 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have ERPO laws, also called red flag laws.
over 20 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have ERPO laws (also called "red flag" laws)
Eligible ERPO petitioners include law enforcement, family, partners, clinicians
Eligible petitioners for an ERPO may include law enforcement, family members, romantic partners, and clinicians, depending on state law.
Eligible petitioners for an ERPO may include law enforcement, family members, romantic partners, and clinicians.
ERPOs are modeled on domestic violence orders and focus on firearms
Modeled after domestic violence protection orders, ERPOs focus specifically on firearms access.
Modeled after domestic violence protection orders, ERPOs focus specifically on firearms access
California, Hawai'i, and U.S. Virgin Islands let employers petition for ERPOs
California, Hawai'i, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted legislation allowing employers or coworkers to petition for an ERPO concerning an employee.
California, Hawai'i, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted legislation to also allow employers or coworkers to petition for an ERPO concerning an employee.
Firearms used: all 86%, employees 95%, customers 68%, partners/relatives 100%
Data Table 1 reports firearms in 86% of all attacks (n = 50), 95% of attacks by current or former employees (n = 22), 68% by customers, clients, patients, and visitors (n = 19), and 100% by romantic partners and relatives (n = 9).
Sample (N = 50 | 22 | 19 | 9 by column) · Data Table 1 columns: all attacks 50 | employees 22 | customers, clients, patients, visitors 19 | partners and relatives 9
Firearms | 86% | 95% | 68% | 100%
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