Gun violence is not just by hand guns, however, they make the most largest part of gun violence totals. This graph compares the number of homicides committed in the US each year with hand guns (the blue line) versus homicides  committed with other types of guns (the red line.) 



It is interesting to note that there is a sharp increase in hand gun violence starting in the late 1980s. This was just as the end of the Cold War was around the corner, there were high tensions between different racial communities in the US. Also , with increased precision technology and relaxed enforcement on federal hand gun control, hand guns were easier to afford and purchase.

Hand gun violence versus other guns