Gun homicide rate U.S. 2021, by race and age
In the United States, Black people have higher rates of gun homicide than White people across all age groups. As of 2021, gun homicide rates were highest among Black people aged between 15 and 24 years, at 70.65 gun homicides per 100,000 of the population. In comparison, there were only 2.71 gun homicides per 100,000 of the White population within this age range. However, the risk for gun homicide was greatest among all adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 to 34 in that year.
The impact of guns on young Americans
In the last few years, firearms have become the leading cause of death for American children and teenagers aged one to 19 years old, accounting for more deaths than car crashes and diseases. School shootings also remain on the rise recently, with the U.S. recording 57 times as many school shootings than other high-income nations from 2009 to 2018. Black students in particular experience a disproportionately high number of school shootings relative to their population, and K-12 teachers at schools made up mostly of students of color are more likely to report feeling afraid that they or their students would be a victim of attack or harm.
The right to bear arms
Despite increasingly high rates of gun-related violence, gun ownership remains a significant part of American culture, largely due to the fact that the right to bear arms is written into the U.S. Constitution. Although firearms are the most common murder weapon used in the U.S., accounting for approximately 15,000 homicides in 2022, almost half of American households have at least one firearm in their possession. Consequently, it is evident that firearms remain easily accessible nationwide, even though gun laws may vary from state to state. However, the topic of gun control still causes political controversy, as the majority of Republicans agree that it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while Democrats are more inclined to believe that it is more important to limit gun ownership.
