Fact check: What was the total number of firearm deaths in the United States in 2024?

1. Summary of the results

The total number of firearm deaths in the United States in 2024 is not explicitly stated in the provided analyses, with most sources either not providing information for the year 2024 or focusing on data from previous years ^{[1] [2] [3]}. However, excluding suicides, the number of firearm deaths in 2024 was reported to be 16,576, indicating a 12% decrease from 2023 ^{[4] [5]}. This figure includes murders, accidental shootings, and homicides deemed legally justified ^[4]. It's worth noting that the total number of firearm deaths, including suicides, is not provided in any of the analyses ^{[4] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the total number of firearm deaths in 2024, including suicides, which is not provided by any of the sources ^{[4] [5]}. Additionally, the sources primarily focus on the number of deaths, excluding suicides, and do not provide a comprehensive picture of firearm deaths in 2024 ^{[4] [5]}. Alternative viewpoints, such as the geographic distribution of gun violence, the impact of gun control policies, and the comparison of gun violence rates between different countries, are also not fully explored in the provided analyses ^{[2] [6]}. Furthermore, the sources do not provide information on the demographics of the victims, such as age, gender, and ethnicity, which could provide a more nuanced understanding of the issue ^{[1] [3]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be considered misleading, as it implies that a definitive answer to the total number of firearm deaths in 2024 can be provided, when in fact, the sources do not provide a comprehensive picture of firearm deaths, including suicides, for that year ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The sources that do provide information on firearm deaths in 2024, excluding suicides, may be seen as presenting a partial truth, as they do not account for the total number of firearm deaths, including suicides ^{[4] [5]}. This could potentially benefit gun rights advocates, who may use the reported decrease in non-suicide firearm deaths to argue against stricter gun control laws ^{[4] [5]}. On the other hand, gun control advocates may argue that the lack of comprehensive data on firearm deaths, including suicides, is a result of inadequate reporting and tracking of gun violence, which could be used to support their calls for stricter gun control laws ^{[2] [6]}.