Gun violence in the US is not distributed equally across all communities. Gun homicides and assaults are overwhelmingly concentrated in predominantly Black and Brown urban neighborhoods.(1) It is estimated that more than 13,000 people are killed in a gun homicide each year,(2)  and more than half of those killed are Black men, despite making up only 7% of the US  population.(3) In Boston, researchers have found that more than half of all gun violence incidents occur within just 3% of the city's streets.(4)

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These racial disparities in gun violence rates are the result of centuries of deliberate policy choices that created racially segregated neighborhoods that are underfunded and under-supported by policymakers. Gun violence is a symptom of deeper issues: racism, poverty, trauma, and lack of opportunity. This is why we see higher rates of gun violence in communities of color - policymakers have intentionally created neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, poorly funded schools, and high rates of over policing.(5)

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While these numbers are stark, it is important to highlight the resilience and strength of the Black and Brown communities that have been dealing with gun violence for decades. In every community that suffers from high rates of gun violence, there are individuals and organizations coming together to address the root causes of gun violence and the trauma it leaves behind. All too often, individuals and organizations engaged in this work do not receive meaningful or sustained support from funders or government entities. We will not be able to end gun violence without letting the communities that are the most impacted by this issue lead the way on solutions, and then making meaningful investments in those community driven programs

Community-based violence impacts entire neighborhoods, not just the individuals involved in the shooting. For every life lost to gun violence, there is a family and a community left behind. Every instance of gun violence leaves behind lasting trauma and grief for entire communities. This is particularly detrimental to the well-being of children. It’s estimated that more than 3 million children each year witness violence in some form, and Black and Brown children are significantly more likely to witness violence than their white peers.(6) Exposure to violence at a young age increases an individual's likelihood of dealing with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse, and decreases academic performance.(7) This, alongside the systemic inequities described above, perpetuates the conditions that lead to gun violence, further fueling the systems that perpetuate harm.

Young people are often the drivers of gun violence,(8) but that doesn’t tell us the full story. There are a variety of reasons that young people carry and use guns, and for many of these young people it ultimately boils down to the fact that they do not feel safe. To better understand the reasons that young people carry guns, see our incredibly powerful Youth Justice Forum hosted with Citizens for Juvenile Justice and the Center for Court Innovation.