Tennessee recorded its highest number of firearm-related deaths in 2023, according to new government data. The total of 1,587 deaths marked a new record, surpassing the previous high of 1,569 set in 2021.
Cause-of-death data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that Tennessee’s firearm fatality rate rose significantly between 2013 and 2023, even as the national average began to decline.
The findings are highlighted by Tennessee Under the Gun, a data transparency project that compiles statistics from the CDC, FBI, and the Tennessee Department of Health. The project provides detailed breakdowns of firearm injuries and fatalities by age, cause, and county…