New Report Shows Gun Violence Continues to Take Significant Toll Across Wisconsin

Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 -- 12:00 PM

(Wisconsin Radio Network) A new report from the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort shows gun violence continues to take a significant toll across Wisconsin, with hundreds of firearm deaths recorded statewide each year.

According to the organization’s latest analysis, Wisconsin recorded 735 firearm deaths in 2024. Executive Director Nick Matuszewski said the majority of those deaths were suicides.

“507 of those were from firearm suicides, the remaining were homicides or accidental deaths from firearms. We continue to see really high rates of firearm suicides really all across the state, but especially in the rural areas of the state,” Matuszewski said.

The report also highlights disparities among those most affected by gun violence. Matuszewski said firearm homicides disproportionately impact young Black men, while firearm suicides are most common among middle-aged and older white men.

“Young African-American men are disproportionately impacted by gun homicides. We’re also seeing that the demographics that are most impacted by firearm suicide are typically middle-aged to older white males,” he said.

The Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort argues that several policy changes could help reduce firearm deaths. Among its recommendations are universal background checks for all gun sales and an extreme risk protection order law, sometimes referred to as a “red flag” law.

“Things like universal background checks to ensure that every gun sale has to go through a background check, an extreme risk law to ensure that anybody who might be at risk of imminent danger to themselves or somebody else will have their firearm temporarily removed after going through a court hearing and provided with due process,” Matuszewski said.

As Wisconsin lawmakers prepare for the next legislative session, Matuszewski said reducing gun violence should remain a priority regardless of which party controls the Capitol. The report contends that addressing firearm suicides, in particular, will be critical to lowering the state’s overall gun death rate.

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