Black and Brown Communities Grapple with Impact of Gun Violence
January 12, 2023
Communities of color are facing an uphill battle when it comes to shooting deaths in our nation. While gun violence is on the rise nationwide, it’s significantly worse for Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
What You Need To Know
- Gun violence has steadily been increasing in Texas since at least 2015
- State data shows Black victims make up about 45% of all homicide victims
- Research finds socioeconomic inequities are root cause of increased gun violence
- There have been more than 67 homicides in Austin in 2021
Center for Justice Research Founding Director Dr. Howard Henderson says, “The most common denominator among violent offenders is poverty. There was a significant correlation between the likelihood of gun possession and violent victimization with health outcomes. "It’s not the racial factor that’s most impactful, but its the socio-economic reality that many of these individuals exist in living in these communities. It’s a bigger pandemic because the African Americans around are suffering from gun violence.”
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