Summary
Gun violence inflicts a devastating double blow to communities of color. First, shootings shatter families and neighborhoods. In 2014, homicide was the leading cause of death for African American boys and men ages 15 to 34 and the second leading cause of death for Hispanic boys and men ages 15 to 34. Compared to the rate of gun homicides for white boys and men of the same ages, the rate for African Americans was 21 times greater and the rate for Hispanics was nearly four times greater. Too often, however, the justice system response to this violence inflicts a second blow; intrusive policing tactics and overreliance on incarceration destabilize neighborhoods and damage police-community relations. Policymakers, law enforcement officials, and experts offer no shortage of ideas to reduce gun violence. These proposals tend to fall into discrete silos: gun control, police crackdowns, after-school programs, and more. Despite these efforts, high rates of gun violence in communities of color persist. And while the nation rallies following mass shootings in majority-white communities, the response to the daily toll of gun violence in communities of color is muted at best. In an effort to learn what could be done better, we decided to ask people from communities directly impacted by gun violence. We convened more than 100 community members in three diverse American cities—Richmond, Virginia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Stockton, California. The convenings included faith leaders, law enforcement, social service providers, formerly incarcerated individuals, elected officials, and other community members. Our goal was to hear directly from communities about the factors driving gun violence and about actionable policy strategies to make their neighborhoods safer.
Contents
1. Introduction. -- 2. Findings 1: Firearm violence disproportionally affects communities of color. 2 : Easy access to firearms by high-risk people Is a root cause of violence. 3 : Many community members carry guns because they feel unsafe. 4 : Firearms escalate the lethality of violence. -- 3. The Policy Road Map. 1 : Reduce easy access to firearms for people at high risk of engaging in violence.