In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, attempts on President Donald Trump's life, and other high-profile acts of political violence, the insurance industry is experiencing a boom in active shooter insurance policies. Political violence escalated last year, and 2026 is on a 'dangerous trajectory,' according to an April report from Princeton University's Bridging Divides Initiative. To safeguard themselves, organizations and institutions are increasingly seeking active shooter and active assailant insurance, which provides coverage in the event of an armed attack.
Market Growth and Coverage
The market for these products has doubled over the past six years, with annual premiums now totaling $100 million, according to the Financial Times. These policies typically cover property damage, legal costs, and other expenses resulting from an attack. On average, clients pay tens of thousands of dollars for policies offering $1 million in coverage, as reported by Reuters. U.K.-based insurance broker Blackthorn saw U.S. inquiries about its active assailant coverage triple over the last year, according to Julian Vero, the company's managing director and head of broking.
Impact of High-Profile Events
Vero noted a 'serious uptick' in interest following last month's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, where the suspect was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump. 'That attack with that lone wolf individual unsettled lots of people. It is not lost on us that there were lots of journalists and reporters at that event who were then reporting on it,' Vero told The Independent. 'From the back of that, we've seen a serious uptick of inquiries coming to us about the active assailant insurance.'
The company also observed heightened interest after Kirk's assassination in September, the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, and last summer's deadly shooting in the midtown Manhattan skyscraper that housed the NFL headquarters. 'These events really lead to an uptick of inquiry, concern, worry and the need to protect their people by buying the active assailant or active shooter policy, which a traditional terrorism policy wouldn't be covering,' Vero said.
Policy Features
Active assailant policies are designed to be 'aggressor agnostic,' meaning clients are covered regardless of the attacker's motive, according to Blackthorn's website. These policies first emerged in 2011 and became more common by the mid-2010s, as reported by Reuters. As violence increases, so does their popularity. 'We’ve been speaking to clients, organizations, risk managers for five to 10 years about this risk,' Blackthorn senior broker Thea Grootenhuis told The Independent.
Diverse Clientele
Various groups have sought this coverage, from religious institutions and nightclubs to major real estate investment trusts, according to Vero. Many brokers are also offering these policies to schools as shootings on U.S. campuses become increasingly common. There were at least 78 school shootings in 2025, and at least 24 so far this year, according to a CNN data analysis. However, these attacks do not appear to generate the same interest in active assailant policies as other high-profile incidents. 'We certainly see these high-profile events lead to more inquiries to us, wanting our advice and help in this space, which, sadly, school shootings do not,' Vero explained.
Broader Context
In 2024, the U.S. saw more than 44,000 gun deaths, 35 percent of which were homicides. While gun violence has been falling in recent years, 2024's total remains one of the highest on record, according to the Pew Research Center. It remains to be seen whether this heightened attention toward active assailant coverage will correspond with tangible policy changes to address violence in the U.S. 'It would be very sensible for lawmakers in the U.S. to study the data from these increased events and attacks happening, and work collaboratively with the insurance market and response companies and first responders to ensure that they are protecting their people in the best possible way,' Vero said.
