Firearm Death Analysis across all states in the US
Code Repository
Explore the code on the GitHub Code Repository.
Table of Contents
Introduction:
Firearm-related fatalities have been a pressing issue in the United States, prompting discussions and debates on gun laws and public safety. To shed light on this important topic, this article delves into an extensive analysis of firearm death data spanning from 1981 to 2021 across all states in the US. This dataset, sourced from usafacts.org, provides a comprehensive view of firearm deaths, including detailed information on causes, age groups, genders, and state-wise variations.
Understanding firearm-related deaths is essential for policymakers, researchers, and the general public to identify trends, patterns, and potential areas for intervention. It also enables us to reevaluate existing policies and regulations surrounding firearms, with the ultimate goal of fostering a safer society.
In this article, we will delve into the evolving landscape of firearm-related fatalities over time, thoroughly examining the factors contributing to these deaths. We will also explore the disparities in these incidents across various age groups and genders. Furthermore, we will conduct a comparative analysis, focusing on states with distinct levels of firearm deaths, such as California, Rhode Island, and Washington, providing valuable insights into regional variations.
Later, our analysis will extend to the unique challenges posed by the states of New York and Texas in the context of firearm-related fatalities. We will also dissect the contributions of these two states to the overall firearm death count, underlining the significance of addressing this issue on a state-by-state basis. This in-depth analysis aims to offer crucial insights, stimulate discussions, and propose potential policy interventions to reduce firearm fatalities and enhance public safety.
About Dataset:
The data was sourced from usafacts.org and focuses on firearm-related fatalities in the United States spanning from 1981 to 2021. This dataset holds significance as it allows for an examination of the necessity for gun-related laws and the common belief that having firearms at home provides a sense of security.
Exploring this dataset presents an opportunity to delve into the factors contributing to firearm incidents and the causes behind them. This will help us in fostering a good relationship with society.
Data Description
Most variables are named in quite obvious ways.
- Years: The data is for which year
- Firearm Deaths: Total number of firearms deaths in that year
- Homicide: Number of deaths because of Homicide
- Suicide: Number of deaths because of Suicide
- Unintentional: Number of deaths because of Unintentional
- Legal Intervention/Operations of War: Deaths because of Legal Interventions
- Undetermined: Deaths for which we don't know the reason for the death
- Under 19: Number of deaths where the victim was under 19
- 20-34: Age is under 20-34
- 35-49: Age is under 35-49
- 50-64: Age is under 50-64
- 65+: Age is over 65+
- Male: Number of firearm death for the male gender
- Female: Number of firearm deaths for the female gender
- State Wise Count: Firearm deaths for each state across each year
In this analysis, we are examining the various factors contributing to firearm-related deaths, focusing our research on the specific contexts of New York and Texas. These states have higher crime rates and motivates to conduct an in-depth investigation into the fundamental causes of this concerning trend.
Exploratory Analysis
Firearm Deaths Over Time
Purpose of this plotAnalyzing firearm deaths over time is critical to know. Firstly, understanding how firearm-related deaths are distributed across various causes provides valuable insights into public health and safety. It allows us to identify trends, patterns, and potential areas for intervention.
Observation:
- In 1992, there was a notable peak in firearm deaths, followed by a gradual decrease in subsequent years. However, in 2021, there is a troubling increase in the crime rate, which is a matter of significant concern.
It becomes important to investigate the types of firearm-related fatalities and consider potential regulations or interventions aimed at reducing the current increase in crime rates. This analysis holds the promise of shedding light on effective strategies to enhance public safety and reduce firearm-related incident.
Effectiveness of the Graph:
The graph above displays the total number of firearm deaths over the period from 1981 to 2021. The x-axis represents the years, ranging from 1981 to 2021, and the y-axis represents the count of firearm deaths.
The line plot allows for a clear visualization of the trend in firearm deaths over these years. It is evident that there is a noticeable increase in firearm deaths over time, particularly after the mid-2000s. This graphic effectively illustrates the rise in firearm deaths, providing a straightforward and impactful visualization that directly addresses the question of how firearm deaths have evolved over the period.
This gives motivation to visualize the firearm deaths by different causes over time. For instance, if there's a significant rise in firearm deaths due to a specific cause, it would prompt further investigation and potentially influence policy decisions aimed at reducing fatalities
Firearm Deaths Over Period Of Time With Cause
Observation:
- The widespread of firearm-related suicides is alarmingly high and appears to be on the rise. This raises a critical point for consideration; individuals often acquire firearm licenses for self-protection, yet the majority of firearm-related deaths are attributed to suicide. This contradiction calls for a thorough reevaluation of policies regarding firearm issuance.
- Homicide stands as another significant cause of firearm-related fatalities, warranting serious concern. Implementing stricter regulations or reconsidering the issuance of firearms might contribute to a reduction in homicides.
- Notably, firearm deaths due to reasons categorized as Undetermined/Unintentional and Legal Intervention/Operations of War are considerably lower compared to Homicide and Suicide-related firearm fatalities.
- A notable reduction in Homicide deaths was observed around 1998, persisting for a considerable number of years but now again it's on rise
- However, there was a subsequent decline in suicide rates, although it was relatively insignificant. Starting from 2007, suicide rates began to rise again, reaching a peak in 2021. This alarming trend necessitates a comprehensive reevaluation of strategies to address and mitigate firearm-related suicides.
Effectiveness of the Graph:
The graph titled "Firearm Deaths By Cause" illustrates the distribution of firearm deaths across different causes (Homicide, Suicide, Unintentional, Legal Intervention, and Undetermined) over the years from 1981 to 2021. Each line represents a specific cause, showing the count of firearm deaths assigned to that particualar cause for each year. The x-axis represents the years, ranging from 1981 to 2021, while the y-axis represents the count of firearm deaths. The different colors distinguish between the causes. This graph effectively visualizes the variations in firearm deaths across causes, allowing for a comparative analysis of the impact of each cause on firearm-related fatalities. It provides a clear and informative representation of how different causes contribute to the overall trend in firearm deaths over the specified time period.
Firearm Deaths Over Period of Time By Age
Observation:
- The age group ranging from 20-34 exhibits the highest count of firearm deaths in the dataset, followed by the 35-49 age group, 50-64 age group, and then 65+ age group.
- Conversely, the age group Under19 experiences the lowest count of firearm deaths.
Effectiveness of the Graph
The graph titled "Firearm Deaths By Age Group" presents a bar chart illustrating the distribution of firearm deaths across various age groups. Each bar represents a specific age group (Under 19, 20-34, 35-49, 50-64, and 65+), showing the total count of firearm deaths for that age group. The x-axis represents the number of firearm deaths, while the y-axis represents the age groups. The bars are sorted by age group ordered as Under19 being on the top, followed by 20-34, 35-49 and so on in increasing order. This graph effectively visualizes the proportion of firearm-related fatalities in different age categories, providing a clear and informative representation of the impact of age on firearm deaths.
What's the distribution of firearm deaths across different gender over period of time?
Motivation behind this graph: Understanding the distribution of firearm deaths across different genders is crucial in comprehending the gender-specific impact of firearms. By visualizing this data, we aim to shed light on how firearm-related fatalities are distributed among various gender groups. This information can highlight disparities in firearm deaths and contribute to informed discussions and potential policy interventions aimed at reducing firearm fatalities and promoting public safety.
Observations:
- There's a noticeable disparity in firearm-related deaths based on gender. The minimum difference between male and female firearm deaths is approximately 20,000, raising serious concerns.
- Moreover, male firearm-related deaths have been increasing at a significantly higher rate compared to female firearm-related deaths since 2014.
Effectiveness of the Graph:
The graph titled "Firearm Deaths Across Years by Gender (1981-2021)" presents a line chart illustrating the trend of firearm deaths over the years for both genders, Male and Female. The x-axis represents the years from 1981 to 2021, and the y-axis represents the count of firearm deaths. Each line corresponds to a gender (Male or Female) and shows how the number of firearm deaths has changed over the years for that gender. The chart effectively allows comparison of firearm deaths by gender over the specified time period, providing insights into patterns in firearm-related fatalities.
Now, Let's identify States with maximum and minumum firearm death count and compare it with Washington State
The aim is to determine the state with the highest and lowest firearm-related deaths and understand how these figures relate to the broader spectrum of causes of death during the respective periods. Additionally, will compare this data to the state of Washington to provide a comparative perspective.
Rhode Island holds the record for the lowest number of firearm-related deaths, while California leads with the highest count.
Observation:
-We can see that the RhodeIsland has very few firearm deaths across years. It may be due to the fact that the Rhode Island is really very small state.
- We can also see that the the california had maximum numebr of deaths during 1993. Whereas the rate of firearm deaths for Washington and Rhode Island seems constant. there a rise in the firearm deaths in Washington after 2016 but it's not that high.
- We can also see that the Total Firearm deaths across all years is around 1,500,000 but the total count of Rhode Island is significantly small:2005 and even the count of califronia is 150943.
The line graph helps in visuallizing the trends over time. We can see that the legends for showing the color is also very nice. One doen't have to make lot of eye moment to understand the data.
Effectiveness of the Graph:
The graphic titled "Firearm Death Count By State" presents the firearm death count over time for the states of California, RhodeIsland, and Washington. Each line represents the trend of firearm deaths for a specific state from 1981 to 2021. The x-axis shows the years, the y-axis shows the count of firearm deaths, and different colors represent each state. The graph effectively provides a comparison of firearm death counts across these states, helping to identify trends and variations over the specified time range. The addition of labels at end of the line enhances the understanding of the data.
In addition to that,the bar chart shows the comparison of the total firearm deaths in these states, making it easier to observe and analyze variations in counts between the states. Overall, the graphic is doing justice in illustrating the variations in firearm deaths for the selected states over the years.
How Have Firearm Deaths and Causes Evolved from 1981 to 2021?
Observations
- The incidence of firearm deaths has significantly risen between 1981 and 2021.
- Noticeably, both Homicide and Suicide cases have shown an increase during this period.
- Conversely, there has been a decline in Unintentional cases over time.
Effectiveness of the Graph:
This layout effectively compares firearm death counts for the years 1981 and 2021. The left bar chart shows the total firearm deaths for these years, while the right chart provides a detailed breakdown of firearm deaths by cause and year. The line chart presents data for various causes of death, allowing for a clear comparison of trends. The colors and layout contribute to the visual appeal and understanding of the data. The title appropriately conveys the purpose of the graph.
In this analysis, we are examining the various factors contributing to firearm-related deaths, focusing our research on the specific contexts of New York and Texas. These states have higher crime rates and motivates to conduct an in-depth investigation into the fundamental causes of this concerning trend.
As we navigate through the data, our objective is to identify the peaks in death counts; but also to understand the average firearm-related fatalities in both Texas and New York. These statistics is important in comprehending the gravity of the issue, provide us with a broader perspective on the severity of the situation.
Interaction's Impact on Effectiveness:
- Granular Data Exploration: Interaction allowed users to delve into granular data, such as firearm deaths by age, cause, and gender. This level of detail was not achievable with basic encoding alone.
- Geographical Insights: Interactive features made it possible to explore how firearm deaths varied across different states, like Texas and California, providing insights into regional disparities and trends.
- User-Friendly Interface: The interactive graph provided a user-friendly interface for users to customize the data they wanted to view, enhancing the overall experience and engagement.
- Dynamic Updates: Interaction allowed for real-time updates and dynamic changes in the data, making it suitable for tracking changes over time.
- Comparison and Correlation: Users could easily compare factors like age, cause, and gender to identify correlations or trends that were not apparent in the static graph.
- Data Transparency: Interaction provided transparency by allowing users to see the underlying data and sources, fostering trust in the information presented.
- Improved Communication: The interactive graph enhanced the ability to communicate complex data effectively, making it accessible and understandable to a wider audience.
Observations:
- A noticeable disparity in firearm-related deaths is evident between Texas and New York. Texas has a significantly higher firearm death toll, totaling 123,104, compared to New York's 56,107.
- It's noteworthy that the number of firearm-related deaths is increasing in both Texas and New York. The trends in these two states appear to be correlated. However, there is a significant concern for Texas, as the firearm death rate shows a substantial increase with each passing year.
- To provide a clearer visualization of the trend, up until 2014, the patterns in Texas and New York were quite similar. Both states experienced a peak in the early 90s, followed by a decline.
- New York has effectively kept its firearm-related deaths below the mean firearm death rate, even now. In contrast, Texas surpassed this threshold after 2015, experiencing a concerning and rapid rise in firearm-related deaths.
- This stark difference may be attributed to the varying nature of firearm regulations in these two states. New York maintains stringent gun laws, while Texas is more lenient, making it relatively easy to acquire firearms, sometimes even from retail stores like Walmart.
- In the scatter plot, the highlighted green area represents a period when firearm deaths in both New York and Texas exceeded the average firearm deaths for both states. During this period, both states experienced a significant spike in firearm-related fatalities.
- In the final chart, we observe the contributions of New York and Texas to firearm-related deaths over time. Notably, Texas contributes more significantly to these deaths.
- It's worth noting that New York's contribution has decreased over the years, which is a positive trend.
Basic Encoding Effectiveness:
- Trend Visualization: The basic encoding provided a clear visualization of how firearm deaths were changing over time. This allowed viewers to identify patterns, spikes, or declines in a straightforward manner.
- Quantitative Information: The basic encoding graph presented quantitative data, enabling viewers to see actual numbers and compare different time periods.
- Simplicity: The static graph was simple and easy to understand for a quick overview of firearm death trends in the US.
Requirements
Make sure you have the following Python libraries installed:
pip install pandas altair 
