81%
The percent increase in homicides involving a
rifle from 2018 to 2022.
Rifle related deaths
are growing faster
than other firearm types
While handguns consistently make up about 90% of firearm homicides, rifles have steadily gained a larger share each year rising from 5.8% in 2018 to 7.2% in 2022.
RIFLE HOMICIDES & PRODUCTION ARE INCREASING
U.S rifle production saw a major surge, peaking in 2021 and continuing to remain steady.
60%
Percent increase in rifle production since its recent low point in 2019, rising from 1.96 million rifles to 3.12 million in 2023.
103%
Percentage increase in rifle imports from
2017 to 2023.
527,309 → 1,162,442 = +103%
3,287,842 → 3,788,194 = +15.2%
(rifles: up by 590,133 units)
(handguns: up by 500,352 units)
7x
Rifle imports grew ~7× faster in
percentage terms
than handgun imports
WHY PROTECT YOUR BODY BUT NOT YOUR HEAD FROM RIFLE ROUNDS?
Officers wearing what has become the standard in police body armor are unprotected from threats commonly present today.
Rifle attacks on police are rising and standard IIIA helmets offer no protection against rifle rounds, which easily penetrate soft armor at full muzzle velocity.4
If rifles can defeat torso armor, they
absolutely defeat standard
helmets making rifle-rated head protection essential, not optional.
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Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. National Violent Death Reporting System, 2018–2022. Table 13: “Firearm types that inflicted fatal injuries in firearm homicide deaths, 2018–2022.”
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER), 2013–2023. Exhibit 1: Total Firearms Manufactured.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Firearms Commerce in the United States: Annual Statistical Update 2024. Exhibit 3: Firearms Imports (2013–2023).
Police1 Staff. (2024). Why today’s threats require new body armor. Police1. https://www.police1.com/police-products/body-armor/articles/why-todays-threats-require-new-body-armor-5i2QLqPH3R2Mrreu/
Mass shooters overwhelmingly use rifles 49 rifles used in 41 mass shootings making head exposure a critical vulnerability for responding officers.4
Rifle rounds are smaller, harder, and dramatically faster than handgun rounds, meaning unprotected headshots are almost always fatal.4
