The debate on gun violence in the United States often takes center stage in international discourse. However, a surprising statistic reveals another reality: more people die each year in Europe due to extreme heat—exacerbated by the lack of air conditioning—than die in the U.S. due to firearms.
During the European summer of 2022, approximately 61,672 people died from heat-related causes, according to a study published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine. These deaths occurred between May and September, the hottest months of the year on the continent.
In 2023, the situation remained alarming: there were at least 47,690 heat-related deaths in Europe. This data comes from an analysis coordinated by the European public health institute, in collaboration with the French press (Le Monde).
For comparison, the United States recorded 48,204 gun-related deaths in 2022, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In 2023, that number dropped to 46,728.
This means that the number of Europeans dying from heat exceeds—year after year—the number of Americans dying from firearms, despite the alarmist rhetoric surrounding guns in the U.S. and the silence regarding Europe’s thermal vulnerability.
The central factor in this equation is air conditioning—or rather, the lack of it. In most European countries, especially in the north and central regions, the use of air conditioning remains limited.
For cultural, environmental, and historical reasons, air conditioning has never been widely used or seen as essential in Europe. But with climate change advancing, this perception is now costing lives at an alarming scale.
Meanwhile, in the United States, around 90% of households have air conditioning. In Europe, the number is roughly 20%, with significant variations across countries. In the United Kingdom, for instance, less than 5% of homes are equipped with AC.
The lack of adequate climate control creates unhealthy indoor environments, especially for the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses—who make up the majority of heatwave victims.
It’s important to understand that extreme heat is not just uncomfortable—it can kill through dehydration, hyperthermia, multiple organ failure, and the worsening of pre-existing conditions.
The statistics are especially tragic because heat-related deaths are almost entirely preventable. A functioning air conditioner could, in many cases, save lives.
In contrast, the majority of gun deaths in the U.S. involve suicides (over 54%), and are statistically concentrated in certain states, age groups, and social contexts.
In per capita terms, the U.S. recorded 13.7 firearm deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Meanwhile, the death rate from heat in Europe during the summer of 2022 exceeded 90 per million—which, extrapolated annually, is equally significant.
When looking at the data objectively, it becomes clear that the anti-gun discourse lacks proportion, especially when compared to other concrete and deadly threats, such as heatwaves.
European discourse tends to criticize Americans for their gun culture. However, it ignores the human cost of failing to adopt simple, life-saving technologies like air conditioning.
Global warming is likely to make this crisis even worse. Projections from the European Environment Agency indicate that by 2100, Europe could face up to 215,000 heat-related deaths annually.
Even though the U.S. shows high absolute numbers of firearm deaths, it is also among the most well-prepared countries in terms of domestic climate infrastructure.
Public discourse, however, continues to get its priorities backward. Political and media energy is spent demonizing gun ownership, while virtually no campaigns are launched to equip European homes with air conditioning.
More than a provocative comparison, the data suggests a deeper reflection: how many deaths could be avoided in Europe with a simple incentive for home cooling systems?
If the goal of public policy is to save lives, then subsidizing air conditioners may be more effective than moralistically attacking a tool that is widely present in American households.
It’s worth noting that the gun debate in the U.S., while heated, is at least grounded in clear constitutional rights like the Second Amendment. Europe’s lack of thermal preparedness, on the other hand, stems from quiet negligence.
Additionally, in the U.S., armed citizens often act as deterrents against violent crimes. Firearms are used millions of times a year for self-defense, often without a single shot fired—something that does not appear in death statistics.
Meanwhile, heat kills silently. No sensational headlines. No protests. No TV debates. Just another forgotten statistic in the European summer.
Would heat be considered less deadly if it made better headlines? Or is it simply less politicized because there is no clear villain—no shooter—to blame?
One thing is clear: the numbers don’t lie. Every summer, thousands of lives are lost due to lack of climate control. And this could be solved with technology that already exists and is affordable.
We must rethink our moral and political priorities. The right to be armed, in the U.S., is a constitutional right. But the right to be cool and safe should be a necessity in any civilized country.
Europe doesn’t need more speeches. It needs more air conditioners. And more honesty when discussing the real risks its citizens face.
