The Violence Policy Center (VPC) has released a study indicating that in 2023, more than 5,700 Hispanics in the United States lost their lives to gun violence, a stark reminder of the growing impact of firearms on this community. The study, titled ‘Hispanic Victims of Lethal Firearms Violence in the United States’, provides a detailed analysis of gun-related deaths among Hispanics, revealing that 3,284 of these deaths were homicides, while 2,198 were suicides.

Over a 22-year span from 2002 to 2023, the study found that more than 83,000 Hispanics were killed by guns, with the majority being homicides. The report also highlights a concerning trend: the firearms industry and gun lobby have identified Hispanics as a new market for gun sales, following the saturation of the traditional white male market. This targeted marketing raises concerns about the potential for increased gun violence within the Hispanic community.

Key findings from the study include the fact that 77 percent of Hispanic homicide victims in 2023 were killed with firearms, a percentage that has steadily increased since 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 study underscores the limitations in current data collection methods, which often fail to account for ethnic origin, suggesting the actual number of Hispanic victims may be higher. The study calls for improved data collection and violence reduction strategies, including better support for victims of domestic violence and measures to combat the illegal trafficking of firearms.

The complete report is available in both English and Spanish, providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by the Hispanic community in the context of gun violence. For more information, the English version can be found at http://vpc.org/studies/hispanic25.pdf, and the Spanish version at http://vpc.org/studies/hispanicesp25.pdf.

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