Gun violence has wide-ranging consequences that extend far beyond immediate physical harm, affecting mental health, family stability, and economic well-being. As firearm-related injuries and deaths increase, so do the lasting effects of grief, trauma, and mental health challenges for children, families, and communities, while also placing significant economic strain on the state.
the
ripple
effect
of gun violence
Cascading Harm
When we learn more about the cascading harm gun violence poses across our communities, it becomes even more clear that a public health approach is needed to address all of the many factors around this important issue.
Firearm violence leads to cascading harm across society
Those who lose their lives to firearms
Those who are direct witnesses
Those who are injured
Those who lose their loved ones
Those who are exposed in affected communities, including schools
Those who experience collective trauma and fear
Start with data
Use research on firearm-involved injury and death and evaluate prevention programs to drive policy.
See the whole picture
Understand contributing factors such as mental health, addiction, and access to resources.
Support prevention strategies
Fund community programs and promote safe gun storage.
Make a lasting impact
Ongoing collaboration and partnerships keeps the momentum going.
economic costs
The emotional cost of losing a loved one to gun violence cannot be measured. But the cost of caring for individuals and communities hurt by it can be. Both fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries pose a serious economic burden on society.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School find that gun violence takes a big toll on the economy, at a cost of $557 billion annually, or 2.6% of gross domestic product. Most of these costs pay for emergency responders and police investigations; medical treatment; and quality-of-life losses for survivors and their families, who experience physical and mental health problems that can be lifelong.
Connecticut has some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation. Yet, even while the state experiences a lower rate of gun violence than many others, the financial burden of firearm injury on hospitals, insurers, employers, and public services is still very high at about $1.2 billion a year.
