Gun Deaths in Hispanic & Latino Communities Increased by Double the National Average
Washington DC — In the wake of one of the most tragic shootings affecting the Hispanic and Latino community in Uvalde, Texas, and ahead of Hispanic Heritage Month, Giffords has released a new memo outlining the growing and disproportionate rate of gun violence affecting these communities. The memo, also published in Spanish, found that the firearm homicide rate for Hispanics is twice the rate of non-Hispanic white firearm homicides. This latest data underscores that there is a continued and disturbing rise of gun violence affecting this population, reaching a grim milestone of an average of 11 Hispanic people dying from gun violence every day.
Former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Senior Advisor, Giffords:
“While no community is spared from gun violence, Hispanic and Latino communities disproportionately bear the brunt of this epidemic. We cannot ignore the countless lives lost to gun violence or the concerns of a community that is demanding stronger gun safety laws. After the tragedy in Uvalde, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle came together to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first new federal gun safety policy in 30 years. While that represents a significant step forward, there is still a lot of work to be done to end gun violence.”
The memo also finds:
- A record of 5,003 Hispanic people died from gun violence in the year 2020.
- States with large populations of Hispanics and Latinos see even sharper disparities in gun deaths among these groups.
- Hispanic people die from fatal police shootings at 1.4 times the rate of non-Hispanic whites.
Hispanic and Latino communities disproportionately suffer the consequences of our nation’s gun violence epidemic every day. But collectively, this group is raising its voice and demanding action. Currently, Latino voters list gun violence as their second most important issue, and 65% of Hispanic adults support stronger gun laws that would help keep their communities safe.
Fortunately, there are a number of policy solutions that would protect Latinos from gun violence, including universal background checks, extreme risk laws, and funding for community violence intervention strategies.
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