Gun violence deaths increased in first year of Minnesota ‘red flag’ law
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Last year, 564 Minnesotans died from gun violence, according to a new analysis released Tuesday from gun safety organization “Protect Minnesota.”
A vast majority — 72 percent — of 2024’s gun deaths were suicides, and 26 percent were homicides.
The data captures the first year of Minnesota’s new “Extreme Risk Protection Order” law, or “red flag” law.
The law aimed to reduce gun deaths by temporarily removing guns from people who are proven to be a risk to themselves or others. The 2024 data shows 34 more deaths than the year prior.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Lisa Geller is with the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins University. She said it can take a while for data to reflect lives saved.
“For the states that have had this law for longer than Minnesota, we are seeing meaningful reductions in suicides,” Geller told MPR News host Emily Reese. “There was a study that came out last year that focused on four states. For approximately every 18 to 20 [Extreme Risk Protection] orders issued, one suicide was prevented.”
Geller is part of a team working to help train Minnesota to put the new red flag law into place, and educating law enforcement how to use it.
“Some of the counties in Minnesota, after the first year, are using it much more than other counties,” she said. “And so we want to figure out, is it because those counties are larger, they have more resources … to handle these cases, or is there something else going on?”
Press play above to hear Geller’s full conversation with MPR News host Emily Reese.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to get connected with trained counselors who can help. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7.
