Stop 2

Gun Violence in the African American Community

Gun violence is a priority issue for African-Americans and other minorities. Over 600,000 Americans are victimized in handgun crimes each year, and our minority communities are the hardest hit:

  • In 1997, firearm homicide was the number one cause of death for Black men ages 15-34, as well as the leading cause of death for all black 15-24 year olds.[1]

  • In 1997, the firearm death rate for Blacks was 2.6 times that of whites.[2]

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control, the firearms suicide rate amongst Black youths aged 10-19 more thandoubled over a 15 year period. Although Blacks have had a historically lower rate of suicide than whites, the rate for blacks 15-19 has reached that of white youths aged 15-19.[3]

  • A young Black male is 10 times more likely to be murdered than a young white male.[4]

  • The homicide rate among Black men aged 15 to 24 rose by 66 percent from 1984 to 1987, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Ninety-five percent of this increase was due to firearm-related murders.[5]

  • For Black males, aged 15 to 19, firearm homicides have increased 158 percent from 1985 to 1993.[6]

  • In 1998, 94 percent of the Black murder victims were slain by black offenders.[7]

  • In 1997, Black males accounted for 45 percent of all homicide victims, while they only account for 6 percent of the entire population.[8]

  • Firearms have become the predominant method of suicide for Blacks aged 10-19 years, accounting for over 66 percent of suicides.[9]

  • In Florida, Black males have an almost eight times greater chance of dying in a firearm-related homicide than white males. In addition, the firearm-related homicide death rate for black females is greater than white males and over four times greater than white females.[10]

  • In Florida, White males have over twice as high a firearm-related suicide death rate as their black male counterparts and almost five times the rate of white females.[11]

Notes:

  1. National Center for Health Statistics, 1999
  2. National Center for Health Statistics, 1999
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998
  4. National Centers for Health Statistics, 1997
  5. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1994
  6. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1994
  7. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 1998
  8. National Centers for Health Statistics, 1997
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998
  10. Florida Injury Prevention and Control Program. HRS Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, 1993
  11. Florida Injury Prevention and Control Program. HRS Office of Health Promotion and Wellness, 1993