'We all bear a burden': How gun violence costs America $280 billion a year

While gun violence directly affect thousands every year in the U.S., every American feels the economic impact.

This report is a part of "Rethinking Gun Violence," an ABC News series examining the level of gun violence in the U.S. -- and what can be done about it.

In the debate about gun violence, advocates on all sides cite many statistics.

One that is prominently mentioned is the number of gun deaths, more than 194,000 over the past five years, averaging about 39,000 deaths annually, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But the death toll - while gut-wrenching -- only tells part of the story.