Firearm Violence Data

Understanding firearm-related violence data is important in policymaking decisions. Using state and federal data sources, the Office of Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention created a resource to understand the impacts of firearm violence.

Understanding firearm violence data

You can’t fix what you don’t measure. Data is crucial for communities, researchers and policymakers to understand and mitigate firearm violence. Robust data can provide a foundation for improving evidence-based policymaking. Setting out the data responsibilities of OFSVP, the Legislature directed Commerce to:

• Work with law enforcement agencies, county prosecutors, researchers, and public health agencies throughout the state to identify and improve upon available data sources, data collection methods, and data-sharing mechanisms; and

• Identify gaps in available data needed for ongoing analysis, policy development, and implementation of evidence-based firearm violence intervention and prevention strategies.

OFSVP has partnered with researchers from the University of Washington Firearm Injury and Policy Research Program to compile an inventory and descriptions of existing sources of Washington firearms-related data. The inventory identifies 29 data sources in three main categories: health and healthcare, criminal justice, and firearm-related licensing and sales data. Through this early work, we have learned that — while many public health and public safety agencies track data related to firearms, firearm-related injuries and fatalities, and violent crime — that data is often collected and only accessible in silos. We are working with these partners to overcome these challenges.

Mapping community gun violence

Researchers have identified specific evidence-based practices to reduce community firearm violence. Other strategies have been developed to address other forms of firearm violence, including suicide and domestic violence. Data is crucial for helping identify which communities are experiencing higher rates of violence. OFSVP is working with those communities to coordinate and help implement evidence-based violence intervention and prevention strategies.

Visualizing firearm data

• OFSVP Firearm Data Dashboard (on Tableau) – The Firearm Data Dashboard provides information about fatal and non-fatal firearm injuries, lost and stolen firearms, attitudes about safe storage and background checks in Washington state. The data sets in the dashboard are based on available data sets from the Washington Department of Health, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s, National Instant Criminal Back Check System.
• Inventory of Firearm-Related Data Sets (on Tableau) – This provides links to 29 public health and criminal justice data sets. 

Linking data sources

Moving forward, OFSVP will continue to engage with the owners and users of Washington’s firearm-related data systems to explore and identify steps to improve the availability and quality of firearm data in Washington through information collection and data sharing. As we bridge barriers created by traditional boundaries of local and state agencies, we must recognize and respect sensitivities surrounding the data, including health, law enforcement or other confidentialities.

Local public health and law enforcement agencies are key partners in providing information about firearm violence in their communities. OFSVP provides resources and linkages to reports, dashboards, and fact sheets, connecting data when possible. Under the Regional Data Resources section are links that connect to additional firearm-related data in select counties in Washington state.