Home / Health / Pregnant Women's Homicide Risk Rises 37% with Guns, Study Finds
Pregnant Women's Homicide Risk Rises 37% with Guns, Study Finds
14 Nov
Summary
- Pregnant women have 37% higher risk of being killed by firearms
- Over two-thirds of pregnancy-related homicides involve guns
- Every 1% rise in gun ownership linked to 8% increase in firearm homicides of pregnant women
According to a study published on November 10, 2025, pregnant women in the United States are facing a serious and growing threat from gun violence. The researchers examined over 7,000 homicides of women aged 15 to 49 between 2018 and 2021, and found that pregnant women had a 37% higher risk of being killed with a firearm compared to non-pregnant women.
More than two-thirds of all pregnancy-related homicides involved guns. The study also found that even small increases in gun ownership had a significant impact, with every 1% rise in firearm ownership linked to an 8% increase in firearm-specific homicides among pregnant women. Experts say these deaths are both "predictable and potentially preventable" if steps are taken to address the issue.
The highest number of firearm homicides occurred in women aged 20 to 24, and the majority of victims were Black women. Researchers say these findings suggest the risks are shaped by broader systems of inequity and structural racism, requiring urgent policy-level changes in addition to individual-level solutions.
