BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Newly released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows where Louisiana ranks for overall gun deaths in the United States.

A Violence Policy Center analysis determined gun death rates using 2021 CDC data. New information showed that states with the lowest rates had the strongest gun violence prevention laws and low rates of gun ownership.

Louisiana ranked second-highest with a gun death rate of 28.61 per 100,000 and 46.6% household gun ownership.

Mississippi ranked in first place with a rate of 32.61.

The states with the lowest rates were Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

Rates were calculated by dividing the number of gun deaths by the total state population and multiplying the result by 100,000 for the rate per 100,000, VPC said.

According to VPC, the total number of Americans killed by gunfire in 2021 was 48,830, an 8% increase from 45,222 in 2020. 

Leaders in Baton Rouge formed a coalition that launched this February to combat violent crime after two high-profile gun violence deaths last year. The group aims to bring together the community by inviting law enforcement, business owners and nonprofits to reduce violence.

A Baton Rouge State of the City report named one public safety goal to prioritize gun crimes and to prosecute high-risk offenders in the court system. There was a 21% reduction in homicides within the city limits as of Dec. 22, 2022, according to the report.