Fighting Back against Gun Violence in Latino Communities
Hispanic Heritage Month may be coming to an end, but the work to save lives from gun violence never stops.
I am the proud granddaughter of Mexican immigrants who moved to Texas in search of safety, opportunity, and prosperity.
These ambitions were not unique to my family, nor are they unique to immigrants or Latinos in this country. That’s why I’m excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: it’s an opportunity to honor the resilience, power, and beauty of Latino culture in the United States.
Though the timing may seem odd—Hispanic Heritage Month falls between September 15 and October 15 every year—many Latin American countries recognize anniversaries of independence in mid-September. Hispanic Heritage Month provides an important link between those hard-won fights for independence in Latin America and the descendents of those efforts who now call the United States home.
All Americans strive for safety and happiness for their families and their communities. But after five years at GIFFORDS, I have learned how gun violence can cruelly disrupt the pursuit of these shared aspirations.
Latinos in the United States are incredibly diverse, and Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the things that connect us. This includes cultural celebrations featuring lively music and delicious food—but it also means we’re united in somber moments to remember the challenges that many Latinos face today. While all Americans are affected by the scourge of gun violence in our country, the statistics are particularly troubling for Latinos.
- On average, more than 14 Latinos die from gun violence every day.
- Gun deaths among Latinos and Hispanics have increased at nearly twice the rate of gun deaths nationally.
- From 2014 to 2023, the number of Latino gun deaths rose 91%, while the national gun death rate increased by 40%.
- Gun violence is the leading cause of death for Latino males ages 15 to 19.
Latino communities have also been the target of some of our nation’s deadliest mass shootings.
- In 2016, a gunman targeted “Latin Night” at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people and injuring 53 more. Over 90% of the victims were Latino.
- In 2019, a racist shooter traveled to a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, where he killed 23 people and injured 22 others. The shooter’s manifesto revealed white nationalist and anti-immigrant motivations. The attack was investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and as a hate crime, and it is viewed as the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.
- In 2022, a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a majority-Latino town. Over 95% of the victims were Latino.
These horrific acts provide insight into the impact of gun violence on Latino communities: Exposure to high rates of gun violence is linked to negative mental health outcomes, including depression and suicidal ideation in Latino youth.
The statistics are as heartbreaking as they are unacceptable. We must do more to save lives from gun violence.
At GIFFORDS, we are fighting to save lives by creating strategic programs that address gun violence in Latino communities. The first of these efforts is our newly launched Latino Advisory Council. The Council features leaders from across the country who will help guide GIFFORDS in the work to uplift gun safety advocacy in Latino communities.
The members of the Latino Advisory Council represent the rich diversity of the Latino diaspora, and they include gun violence survivors, activists, researchers, physicians, and more. I’ve worked with many members of the Council, and I’m very excited to build these partnerships and highlight the Council’s work in their communities.
The Latino Advisory Council may be our latest initiative, but our work in Latino communities extends to all corners of GIFFORDS.
We’ve identified several priority states to focus on for all aspects of our organization, but they are also where we believe our work can be most impactful, including Florida, Texas, and Arizona—states with large Latino populations and long histories of gun violence. Over the years we’ve dedicated resources to fight for gun safety in these states, including creating Spanish-language materials, developing partnerships with Latino-serving organizations, and training bilingual advocates to push for gun safety in their communities and at their state legislatures.
GIFFORDS Center for Violence Intervention champions solutions that address community violence—the everyday gun violence that takes a disproportionate toll on Black and Latino communities. Our team works with community violence intervention (CVI) coalitions and practitioners who are on the front lines, advocates and helps secure funding for the evidence-based approaches that save lives, and acts as a crucial resource for the CVI field.
Of course, the success of our advocacy work depends on lawmakers’ willingness to listen and take action on gun safety. That’s why GIFFORDS is proud to support candidates who champion this issue in the halls of power. We have focused our political efforts in districts where Latinos make up a key swing constituency, and we’re working to bring a message of gun safety to these voters as they make their decisions at the ballot box.
GIFFORDS is taking a multifaceted, strategic approach to addressing gun violence in Latino communities. We’re working with Latino leaders and ensuring that Latino voices are not an afterthought in the fight to save lives. I am proud to be leading this Latino engagement work alongside such a dedicated team.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to uplift Latinos and celebrate the powerful legacy of Latinos in the United States—but this work doesn’t end once the month is over. Gun violence doesn’t take a break, and neither do we. In a time when Latinos and immigrants are under increased threat from leaders in Washington DC, this work is more important than ever. GIFFORDS will continue to use all of our tools to save lives from gun violence and protect Latino communities for generations to come.
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Our experts can speak to the full spectrum of gun violence prevention issues. Have a question? Email us at media@giffords.org.
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