| Q: |
How has the proportion of high school students carrying a weapon changed over time? |
| A: |
In 2019, about 1 in 8 (13.2%) of high school students said they carried a weapon in the past 30 days, down from more than 1 in 5 (22%) in 1993. |
Percent of high school students who carried a weapon, 1993-2019
| Year |
Carried a weapon |
Carried a weapon
on school property |
| 1993 |
22.1% |
11.8% |
| 1995 |
20.0% |
9.8% |
| 1997 |
18.3% |
8.5% |
| 1999 |
17.3% |
6.9% |
| 2001 |
17.4% |
6.4% |
| 2003 |
17.1% |
6.1% |
| 2005 |
18.5% |
6.5% |
| 2007 |
18.0% |
5.9% |
| 2009 |
17.5% |
5.6% |
| 2011 |
16.6% |
5.4% |
| 2013 |
17.9% |
5.2% |
| 2015 |
16.2% |
4.1% |
| 2017 |
15.7% |
3.8% |
| 2019 |
13.2% |
2.8% |
Notes: For each behavior, respondents were asked if they had done so at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Weapon includes a gun, knife, or club.
- Roughly 1 in 35 (2.8%) high school students reported carrying a weapon on school property in 2019, down from about 1 in 8 in 1993.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03505.asp?qaDate=2019.
Released on September 21, 2020.
Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/. Accessed August 2020.
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors priority health risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.
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