Gun-Free School Zones & Shootings Statistics (2025)

By Cassandra McBride

Last Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Cite this Article

Cassandra McBride

With a Criminology and Sociology background, Cassandra blends advocacy and research to write data-driven articles on the outdoors, politics, and firearms. A staunch Second Amendment supporter, she empowers women through firearm training. At Ammo.com, her work sheds light on gun deaths, ownership trends, and overlooked angles in gun debates.

Read More

Cassandra McBride, "Gun-Free School Zones & Shootings Statistics (2025)"
(https://ammo.com/articles/gun-free-zones-and-school-shootings)

Related Studies: Children & Firearms: Definitions and Demographics Make All the Difference, Gun Laws and Enforcement Trends, Gun Laws vs. Crime Rates: 2025 Statistics & Laws

Ammo.com provides information from reputable sources. You can view the sources used in this article HERE.

The 1994 Gun-Free School Zones Act and School Shootings

There has been a 200% increase in targeted school shootings in the U.S. since the Gun-Free School Zones Act was passed in 1990. ^{Source 3, 4, 7, 8, 9}

Prior to the passing of the GFSA, there were seven targeted attacks on schools, leading to 23 deaths and 84 injuries. From the bill's passage in 1995 through 2023, there have been 21 targeted attacks on schools, leading to 206 deaths and 204 injuries.

Note: A targeted, firearm-related attack on a school is exclusively one in which the attacker (A) targeted a school (as opposed to an individual), (B) did not include gang or familial violence, and (C) occurred at an operational institution during school hours.

States Allowing Teachers to Be Armed

A guardian or sentinel program allows a teacher to carry a firearm on campus so long as their school district approves and the teacher meets certain requirements. As of 2025, 15 states have sentinel or guardian programs.

There hasn't been a school shooting incident in any schools with armed teachers. Likewise, there have been no school shootings in districts where teachers are armed. ^{Source 7, 8, 9} Although five of 15 states with sentinel or guardian programs have experienced at least one school shooting since passing the legislation, none of those states' affected schools had armed teachers at the time of the incidents.

School Shootings: Before and After Gun-Free School Zones

Before the 1990 GFSA, only 389 recorded incidents would have violated the new law (threatening, brandishing, shooting, etc.). After 1991, there were 1,662 incidents: a 327% increase. ^{Source 1, 7}

All School Shootings: 1970-2022

Between January 1970 and June 2022, there were 2,069 firearm-related incidents on school campuses. Of these, 62% (1,284 incidents) occurred during school hours, with 637 happening on school grounds. Among those incidents, 498 involved a shooting during school hours on school campuses.

From 1970 to 2022, there were 191 active shooting incidents on school grounds, as defined by the FBI. Additionally, 237 incidents were gang-related, and 117 were domestic disputes.

Disputes led to 720 of these school shootings. There were also 140 drive-by shootings and 96 indiscriminate shootings. Incidents related to bullying or anger over suspensions or grades accounted for 94 shootings. Thirty-six shootings were attributed to psychosis, and 14 resulted from racial tensions (11 of which occurred before the GFSA).

School Shootings 1970-1989

Before the GFSA, 389 firearm-related incidents were recorded on or near school campuses. Many such incidents are unrecorded (as reporting isn't required), although several others were notable enough to merit being reported in newspapers or to the FBI.

Among these incidents, 135 occurred during school hours, 124 occurred during school hours on school campuses, and 99 involved shots being fired. There were only 11 active shootings, 10 gang-related incidents, and 10 domestic disputes. Disputes accounted for 55 incidents, while bullying and suspension issues accounted for 16. Race-related incidents were higher, with 11 incidents recorded.

Note: The following data only include school-related shootings that occurred while students were present and on school property (unless otherwise stated).

School Shootings 1991-2022

After the GFSA, 1,662 notable firearm-related incidents were reported, with 958 occurring during school hours. Of these, 860 took place on school grounds, and 601 resulted in shots being fired.

There were 68 active shootings (a 518% increase), 53 gang-related shootings, and 38 domestic disputes. Disputes led to 151 shootings, with more drive-by shootings (36) and indiscriminate shots fired (39). Bullying and suspension-related incidents led to 35 shootings, and psychosis led to 12. Race-related incidents decreased to just one.

Targeted School Attacks

Targeted Attacks Highlights

• Students are targeted more often than faculty and student resource officers (SROs).
• Schools with fewer than 1,000 students have more targeted attacks than schools with more than 1,000.
• School attackers are more likely to be male than female.
• Suicidal ideation, disciplinary action, and retaliation are common precursors to an attack.
• Few schools have metal detection devices, and less than half of schools in America have armed SROs.
• The average targeted attack occurs after a seasonal break and lasts less than one minute.
• Most attackers get their firearms from close friends or relatives. Firearms are often obtained from unsecured locations.
• The majority of assailants obtained their weapons on the day of the attack.

The United States Secret Service and Department of Education identified 37 targeted attacks committed by 41 individuals between 1974 and 2000.

• 59% occurred during the school day
• 95% were committed by students
• 100% of attackers were males
• 61% of attackers used handguns

• 54% of attackers targeted an administrator
• 33% of attackers were receiving mental health assistance

Note: These attacks include knife and firearm statistics. Also, the Secret Service defines a "mass attack" as one where three or more people were injured; 24% of attacks in this report were mass attacks under that definition.

School Demographics

The Secret Service released another report regarding targeted attacks and schools for 2008-2017.

95% of targeted attacks occurred at public schools. 34% of these schools were in suburban areas; 27% in urban areas; 24% in rural areas. ^{Source 5, 6} Furthermore, schools with fewer than 1,000 students comprised 59% of total targeted attacks.

Targeted Attacks Highlights

• Targeted attacks occurred at a higher rate after seasonal breaks than at any other time. 24% of attacks occurred on the first day of school.
• 61% of attackers used firearms; 39% used knives.
• 51% of attacks occurred during morning classroom hours.
• 51% of attackers stopped without external intervention. 17% committed suicide; 15% left the scene.
• Students accounted for 85% of the victims in these incidents. 13% were staff members; 2% were SROs. In total, 79 people were injured and 19 were killed from targeted attacks from 2008-2017.
• 20 of the victims were stabbed. The rest were shot.
• Only one person was injured in the majority of these attacks (54%).
• 41% of attackers were motivated by suicide. 83% were retaliating against peers or staff.

School Security & Vulnerability

Less than 46% of public schools in the U.S. have SROs, and many SROs cover more than one school. ^{Source 13, 14}

7% of schools in this study had metal detectors (only three). 15% (six schools) had unarmed security guards.

66% of these schools had full or part-time SROs. 44% of the attacks lasted one minute. 83% lasted less than five minutes. SROs' response time is less than one minute, with outside law enforcement often responding within 5-10 minutes.

Acquisition of a Firearm

51% of attackers in this study observably planned to carry out an attack. 76% obtained a weapon from a parent or close family member. Fewer than half (49%) acquired firearms from an unsecured location. 16% acquired them from secure locations. Schools are gun-weapon-free, often the most convenient source of firearms. ^{Source 5, 6}

Understanding the Attacker

63% of assailants from 2008 to 2017 had symptoms of depression. 60% reported suicidal thoughts, 29% had anxiety, 26% had anger issues, and 20% had psychosis. ^{Source 5, 6}

49% of the assailants had substance abuse issues. 46% had parents or siblings struggling with substance abuse. 71% had divorced parents, and 40% reported dysfunction in the family or domestic violence. 100% had social stressors within six months of an attack.

Here are some of the more common characteristics of school attackers:

• 89% had disciplinary issues at school (i.e. suspension, poor grades, etc.)
• 80% elicited concern from bystanders
• 83% shared verbal, written, video, or visual communications with threats
• 74% displayed anger outbursts or aggressive acts
• 71% stockpiled weapons
• 71% had an interest in weapons
• 63% experienced isolation and symptoms of depression
• 57% displayed observable differences in appearance and behavior
• 54% expressed thoughts of suicide and self-harm
• 37% had a heightened interest in violence

Gun Laws & Shooting Incidents by State

School shooting incidents in this section are defined as those "where a gun is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property for any reason, regardless of the number of victims (including zero), time, day of the week, or reason, including gang shootings, domestic violence, shootings at sports games, and after hours school events, suicides, fights that escalate into shootings, and accidents." ^{Source 14}

Top 10 states with the highest school shootings since 1970

Wrap-Up

The goal of gun-free school zone legislation was to increase student safety. It remains unclear whether these policies have made schools safer. Without reliable, standardized data, policymakers and the public are left to debate the benefits and drawbacks of gun-free policies.

The data we do have available suggests that these policies have produced unintended adverse effects, with more notable school shooting incidents occurring after the implementation of gun-free school policies.

Sources

1. School Shootings in 2023: Fewer Injuries and Deaths While Gun Violence Continues
2. S.890 Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1995
3. S.2070 Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990
4. Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States
5. Protecting America’s Schools: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Targeted School Violence
6. K-12 Shooting Database
7. Number of K-12 School Shootings in the U.S. from 1970 to June 2022
8. Number of Victims of School Shootings Between September 1982 and 2024
9. State Gun Laws - 2020
10. Giffords Law Center
11. School Resource Officers: Benefits & Challenges
12. Case Studies of 19 School Resource Officer Programs
13. Number of K-12 School Shootings in the U.S. from 1970 to June 2022

Written by

Cassandra McBride