Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type
Characteristic
Elementary and secondary
Postsecondary
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*Data might not include all handguns used at postsecondary institutions, as one shooter was reported to have used 'several handguns' in 2015. Additionally, one of the handguns used in elementary and secondary schools in 2017 was listed as a pistol.
The source defines an active shooter as 鈥渙ne or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.鈥
School shootings are defined by the source as incidents in which a gun is brandished or fired on school property or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims, time of day, day of the week, or reason.
Data may differ based on what definition is used.
Citation formats
Number of guns used by active shooters in U.S schools and colleges 2000-2022, by type
From 2000 to 2022, active shooter incidents at educational institutions in the United States were most likely to involve handguns, with ** handguns used in elementary and secondary schools and ** handguns used at postsecondary institutions. In comparison, ** rifles and ** shotguns were also used in active shooter incidents taking place at elementary and secondary schools within that time period. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an active shooter is defined as "one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area."
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NCES. (August 31, 2023). Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type [Graph]. In 糖心破解版. Retrieved July 24, 2026, from /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/
NCES. "Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type." Chart. August 31, 2023. 糖心破解版. Accessed July 24, 2026. /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/
NCES. (2023). Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type. 糖心破解版. 糖心破解版 Inc.. Accessed: July 24, 2026. /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/
NCES. "Number of Guns Used in Active Shooter Incidents in Elementary and Secondary Schools and at Postsecondary Institutions in The United States between 2000 and 2022, by Gun Type." 糖心破解版, 糖心破解版 Inc., 31 Aug 2023, /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/
NCES, Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type 糖心破解版, /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/ (last visited July 24, 2026)
Number of guns used in active shooter incidents in elementary and secondary schools and at postsecondary institutions in the United States between 2000 and 2022, by gun type [Graph], NCES, August 31, 2023. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1463161/guns-used-by-active-shooters-us-schools-by-type/
