Columbia is in the midst of a historic drop in gun violence. In 2024 Columbia has seen a more than 40% decrease in fatal and non-fatal shootings. This is the culmination of a steady decline that began almost two years ago. In fact, as of September 2024, Columbia’s 12-month fatal and non-fatal shooting average is lower than it has been at any point in more than a decade. Many American cities saw decreases in gun violence as the violent crime surge of the pandemic era subsided. Columbia, however, is continuing to see gun violence rates drop steadily, even as some other agencies in the region, such as Nashville and Charlotte, have seen their decreases stagnate.
