NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF)- New data about gun violence in Tennessee paints a high economic toll across the state.
The non-profit Voices for a Safer Tennessee say that firearm violence cost Tennessee over $3.6 billion in 2023, the last year data is currently available for.
In Hamilton County, that impact was roughly $183 million dollars, while the rest of Southeastern Tennessee saw an impact of just over $100 million dollars.
They say those numbers factor in medical costs, lost productivity, and the value of the lives that are lost.
Dr. Matt Harris, a researcher at the University of Tennessee’s Boyd Center said, “When you take a look at the aggregate picture, you see that improperly stored firearms, that poor firearm stage safety is cause for concern everywhere in our state.”
The link to the study so you can look at the numbers for yourself is here.
