The Medical Costs of Gunshot Injuries in the United States

Abstract
In 1997, gunshots caused 31,636 fatal injuries and approximately 100,000 nonfatal injuries in the United States.1,2 In addition to the enormous human toll of gun violence, the cost of treating these injuries imposes a financial burden on society. While measuring medical costs is not as straightforward as counting the number of victims, valid cost estimates are important for at least 2 reasons. First, such estimates are relevant to evaluating gun violence–reduction programs. Second, reliable estimates for the financial burden that gun violence imposes on the medical care system may help guide reimbursement policies.