What is the price of an American homicide?

Authors

Danielle La Vigne, Advocate Health - MidwestFollow
Justin Cirone, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Michael J. Littau, Department of Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
David Hampton, Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Recommended Citation

LaVigne' D, Cirone J, Littau MJ, Hampton D. What is the price of an American homicide?. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2026;11(1):e002127. Published 2026 Feb 19. doi:10.1136/tsaco-2025-002127

Abstract

Gun violence is an American public health epidemic. The gun is the most recognizable instrument associated with interpersonal violence; however, the bullet is ultimately what inflicts damage. Our retrospective analysis demonstrated the average American homicide costs $2.25. While monetary incentives and the voluntary return of weapons have proven fruitless, taxation directed toward ammunition may create a financial disincentive to homicide.

Type

Editorial

PubMed ID

41736966