Over 5,700 Hispanics Killed by Guns in the U.S. in 2023, VPC Study Finds

More than 5,700 Hispanics died by gunfire in the United States in 2023, according to the latest edition of the Violence Policy Center's (VPC) annual study, Hispanic Victims of Lethal Firearms Violence in the United States. The study, which utilizes data from the CDC and FBI, found that guns claimed 5,747 Hispanic lives that year, with 57 percent being homicides and the remainder suicides, unintentional shootings, and other circumstances.

Over a 22-year period from 2002 to 2023, more than 83,000 Hispanics were killed with guns in the U.S., underscoring the persistent issue of gun violence within this community. The study also points to the firearms industry's targeted marketing towards Hispanics as a new market, potentially exacerbating the problem. VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann emphasized the need for better data collection on Hispanic ethnicity to fully understand and address the issue.

Key findings include the doubling of the female Hispanic firearm suicide rate from 2002 to 2023 and the fact that 77 percent of Hispanic homicide victims in 2023 were killed with firearms, predominantly handguns. The study calls for improved data collection on ethnic origin and enhanced violence reduction strategies to combat this crisis.