Gun violence and the associated expenses costs Minnesota more than three-quarters of a billion dollars each year, according to findings from the Minnesota Coalition for Common Sense.
Statistics show that gun violence costs Minnesota roughly $764 million a year, and most of that bill is footed by the taxpayers. On average there were 922 shootings that injured or killed Minnesotans every year from 2010 to 2014.
“What’s surprising is it’s such a high number [of people being fatally shot or injured] even in a state that compared to other states in the U.S. doesn’t have that high a rate of gun violence,” said Mike McLively, who helped author the report. “But it’s still such a staggering cost, even in Minnesota.”
The Cost of Gun Violence
There are numerous hidden costs when someone is wrongfully injured or killed with a gun in Minnesota. There are expenses for:
- Investigation into the shooting
- Workers’ compensation costs
- Burial costs
- Court costs and prosecution fees
- Financial burdens on families, law enforcement and businesses
- Jail costs
“Immediately after a trigger is pulled, the bills begin to pile up: health care costs to repair shattered limbs and punctured organs, law enforcement and criminal justice expenses to investigate violent gun crimes and incarcerate offenders, costs incurred by businesses to cover for seriously injured or dead employees, and lost employee wages,” the report says. Businesses also feel a hit, because “people in the area feel less safe, and are less inclined to frequent public places and businesses.”
According to the coalition, a mere 10 percent reduction in gun violence could save taxpayers $76 million each year. However, there would obviously be costs associated with reducing gun violence, including costs for implementing universal background checks, interventions throughout area neighborhoods, and law enforcement training.
The total number is staggering, but it’s not surprising to learn that there are so many hidden costs as a result of gun violence. Guns can shatter people’s lives in an instant, and we need to do a better job of cutting down on gun violence across the state. The report from the coalition is the first step in opening up our eyes to the problem, and now we need to come up with a plan and implement it.
