Focus Policy Blog

Race, Gender, & Gun Homicides: 2016 State of the Union

President Obama’s gun safety actions and his My Brother’s Keeper Initiative address issues that disproportionately impact young males of color.  In 2014, firearm homicide was the leading cause of death for African American males ages 15-34, and the third leading cause of death for Latino males in the same age group (and would be second if combined with suicides in which firearms were used).  Firearms were used in over 91 percent of homicides of African-American males ages 15-34, and in 81 percent of homicides of Latino males in this age group.  In all age and gender categories, African Americans accounted for 13 percent of the U.S. population,  but over 57 percent of the victims of homicide by firearm.