In 1975 nationwide, 20,505 homicides classified as murder and non-negligent manslaughter in Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports were reported, a rate of 9.6 per 100,000 population. In the same year in Alaska, 43 homicides were reported, a rate of 12.2 per 100,000 population. In 1982, when 81 homicides were reported, the rate hit 18.5 the highest during the 1975-1995 period. In contrast, the national rate was 9.1 in 1982. Between 1988 and 1994, the Alaska homicide rate fell below the national average, with the lowest homicide rate of 5.7 reported in 1988. In 1995, the Alaska homicide rate of 9.1 was again above the national homicide rate of 8.2. Murder was the least common violent crime. In the years from 1986 to and 1995, murder ranged from a low of 0.8 percent of all violent crimes in 1994 to a high of 2.2 percent in 1987. Homicides in which the victim was known to the offender were more common than homicides committed by strangers. Handguns or other firearms were the most common murder weapons between 1986 and 1995. Homicide ranked as the 9th most frequent cause of death in Alaska and the 11th most in the United States as a whole. 3 tables and 1 figure