A recent study by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) has uncovered that more than 5,700 Hispanics lost their lives to gun violence in the United States in 2023, with the firearms industry increasingly targeting this community as a new market for sales. The study, titled ‘Hispanic Victims of Lethal Firearms Violence in the United States,’ utilizes data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to shed light on the alarming rates of gun-related deaths among Hispanics.
Of the 5,747 Hispanic lives claimed by guns in 2023, 3,284 were homicides and 2,198 were suicides, with the remaining deaths resulting from unintentional shootings and other circumstances. Over a 22-year span from 2002 to 2023, more than 83,000 Hispanics were killed with guns, underscoring a persistent crisis of gun violence within this community.
The study also points to a concerning trend where the firearms industry and gun lobby have shifted their focus towards Hispanics and other communities of color, aiming to expand their market beyond the traditional base of white male gun owners. This strategic marketing push raises concerns about the potential for increased gun violence in these communities.
VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann emphasized the gaps in data collection regarding Hispanic ethnicity, suggesting the actual numbers of victims may be higher. The study calls for improved data collection methods and violence reduction strategies to address this issue effectively.
For further details, the complete report is available in English and Spanish.
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