36 Likewise, there is a lack of educational opportunities, as the schools are chronically underfunded. 35 The typical household within a high poverty neighborhood has a net worth of $7,000 - 40 times less than the typical household in a low poverty neighborhood. Within many neighborhoods with high rates of violence, the unemployment rate is over 20%. 32 The same neighborhoods struggling with community gun violence also face a number of economic challenges including the lack of access to healthy food, shortage of affordable housing, inadequate education, few jobs, and limited opportunities. These inequalities are caused by racist policies like redlining and exclusionary zoning laws that target communities of color and create segregated and underinvested neighborhoods. Social and economic inequalities are often at the root cause of community gun violence. What Factors Influence Community Gun Violence? 12, 13 Clearly, the sheer number of firearm homicides illustrates that Cook County is in the midst of a gun violence crisis, but this crisis is not unique to Chicago it is equally devastating in cities across the United States. In fact, Cook County’s firearm homicide rate is 11.62 per 100,000, ranking it 13th in the country among large central metro counties, behind Milwaukee County.

However, because Cook County has a population of 5.2 million residents, the firearm homicide rate is much lower than many other large metro counties with smaller populations. Total Number of Firearm Homicidesīecause the population varies significantly by city or county, firearm homicide rates provide a better illustration of the impact gun violence has on communities, rather than the total number of firearm homicides within a given area.įor example, Cook County (Chicago), Illinois has by far the most number of firearm homicides out of any county in the country, averaging over 600 each year. We define urban counties as large central metro counties as classified by the National Center for Health Statistics.Īll rates listed are age-adjusted in order to allow for accurate comparisons between populations with differing age distributions.įirearm Homicide Rates vs. Times higher than the national firearm homicide rate Consequently, Black and Hispanic/Latino Americans are disproportionately impacted by community gun violence.Īverage annual firearm homicides (2015-2019)Īge-adjusted firearm homicide rate (per 100,000 people) 6, 7 These inequities often are at the root of community gun violence. 5 The neighborhoods disproportionately affected by community gun violence are the same neighborhoods impacted by social and economic inequities that can be traced to racism, segregation, and current discriminatory policies, like redlining, exclusionary zoning, and mass incarceration. As a result, whole neighborhoods are exposed to and impacted by the adverse health effects of gun violence. 4 Most community gun violence is highly concentrated within under-resourced city neighborhoods.

It occurs in public places - streets, parks, front porches - in cities across the United States, and it makes up the majority of gun homicides that occur in the United States. This form of gun violence disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Public Health Approach to Gun Violence PreventionĬommunity gun violence is a form of interpersonal gun violence (assaults) that takes place between non-intimately related individuals in cities.Assault Weapons and Large Capacity Magazines.

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