Firearm Deaths in Oregon
In Oregon in 2019, 566 people died from a firearm (12.5 per 100,000 persons).
These deaths include:
-
466 from suicide (82%)
-
78 from homicide (14%)
-
4% other (unintentional, undetermined, legal intervention)
For more up to date information, please visit our Center for Health Statistics
data dashboard.
Fact Sheets
Firearm deaths Oregon and USA.pdf
Firearm deaths by Oregon County.pdf
CD Summary: A new approach to preventing firearm deaths, 2017
Firearms and Suicide
Many people in the U.S. believe that most firearm deaths are homicides, however the data show otherwise.
- Nationwide, 60% of all firearm deaths are the result of suicide.
- In Oregon, this number is even higher at over 80%, with a disproportionately higher rate in rural communities compared to urban.
- 77% of all firearms suicides are done by handgun.
- Among male military veterans, 3 out of 4 suicides involve a firearm.
The high percent of firearms deaths that are suicides is also seen in other Western states, including Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and Washington, and our neighbors in Canada.
Risk Factors for Firearm Suicide
Oregon tracks violent deaths through the
Oregon Violent Death Reporting System (OR-VDRS). The data include deaths by age, sex, and county, and trends over time.
Common risk factors for firearms suicide identified in OR-VDRS include:
- Mental illness and substance abuse
- Previous suicide attempts
- Interpersonal relationship problems or poor family relationships
- Recent criminal legal problems or school problems
- Exposure to a friend or family member's suicidal behavior