The Violence Policy Center (VPC) has released a study titled 'Hispanic Victims of Lethal Firearms Violence in the United States,' which reports that 5,747 Hispanics lost their lives to gun violence in 2023. This figure includes 3,284 gun homicides and 2,198 gun suicides, marking a significant portion of the total gun-related deaths in the country. Over a 22-year span from 2002 to 2023, the study estimates that more than 83,000 Hispanics have been killed by guns, with the majority being homicides.
The study sheds light on the firearms industry's strategic shift towards targeting Hispanics and other communities of color as potential new markets for gun sales, following the saturation of the traditional white male market. This marketing push, which began in 2015, aims not only to boost sales but also to expand the political influence of the pro-gun movement within these communities.
Key findings from the study indicate that 77 percent of Hispanic homicide victims in 2023 were killed with firearms, a percentage that has steadily increased from 69 percent in 2002. Handguns were involved in 53 percent of these homicides. Additionally, the study notes a doubling of the female Hispanic firearm suicide rate from 2002 to 2023.
The VPC emphasizes the limitations in current data collection methods, which often overlook ethnic origin, suggesting that the actual number of Hispanic victims is likely higher than reported. The study calls for improved data collection practices and enhanced violence reduction strategies to address this growing issue.
For further details, the complete report is available in English at http://vpc.org/studies/hispanic25.pdf and in Spanish at http://vpc.org/studies/hispanicesp25.pdf.
