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      For too many years, Latinx communities have borne some of the heaviest burdens of gun violence, dying from gun violence every day and at rates disproportionate to their white peers. Systemic inequities across institutions and generations of racial discrimination have exacerbated this crisis to target communities of color, including Latinx communities. Whether it be through hate-motivated violence, city gun violence, police violence, or firearm suicide, Latinx communities remain among the most severely threatened groups.

      Why We Use Latinx

      Developed by queer and trans Latin American communities in the United States, the term Latinx is a gender-neutral word designed to include gender-fluid, gender-expansive, and/or gender nonbinary people and other queer and trans communities on the gender spectrum.

      Often used interchangeably, “Latinx” and “Hispanic” have different meanings: Latinx refers to people of Latin American origin, while Hispanic refers to people of Spanish-speaking origin. Latinx is used here when referring to both Hispanic and Latinx communities, and Hispanic is used otherwise. The term Latinx does not replace Latino or Latina identifying people, but rather to acknowledge all members of this community.

      The Impact of Gun Violence on Latinx Communities

      4.7k

      Each year, more than 4,700 Latinx people die from gun violence in the US.

      CDC, WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, 2018–2021.

      Last updated: 7.7.2023

      4.7k

      Cada año, más del 4,700 personas latines mueren de violencia con armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos (un promedio de 13 muertes por día) y 13,300 son disparadas y heridas.

      CDC, WONDER, Causa de muerte subyacente, 2018–2021; Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, “A More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States”, diciembre de 2020, https://every.tw/33Hto3F.

      Last updated: 7.7.2023

      Read the Fact Sheet

      Latinx Heritage Month

      September 15 to October 15 is Latinx Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and history of the Latinx community. We also recognize the ways that the Latinx community is affected by gun violence. Latinx people in the United States are dying from gun violence every day, and at rates disproportionate to their white peers.

      Increasingly, Latinx people are the target of hate-motivated violence, including in August 2019, when the devastating mass shooting in El Paso, Texas laid bare the deadly consequences of hate and rhetoric against the Latinx community.

      Stories

      Read stories from Latinx voices in the gun violence prevention movement.

      Read More Latinx Stories

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      En Español

      En 2019, un informe arrojó que el 10 por ciento de los adultos latines habían sido víctimas de un crimen motivado por el odio en el último año.
      En las comunidades latines, la violencia con armas de fuego cobra 4,700 vidas cada año.
      Los latines tienen el doble de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicidio por armas de fuego que las personas blancas.
      Los niños y adolescentes latines tienen el triple de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicidio por arma de fuego que sus pares blancos.
      La policía tiene el doble de probabilidades de amenazar o usar fuerza física durante encuentros con personas latine que con personas blancas.
      Los latines tienen el doble de probabilidades de ser asesinados en un homicido por armas de fuego que las personas blancas, y tienen también más probabilidades de recibir un disparo mortal de parte de la policía.

      In English

      A 2019 report found that 10 percent of Latinx adults had been victimized by a hate crime in the past year.
      In Latinx communities, gun violence takes 4,700 lives every year.
      Latinx people are twice as likely to be killed by gun homicide as white people.
      Latinx children and teens are three times more likely to be killed by gun homicide than their white peers.
      Police are twice as likely to threaten or use physical force during encounters with Latinx people than with white people.
      Latinx people are twice as likely to be killed by gun homicide as white people and are also more likely to be fatally shot by police.

      Resources

      For Elected Officials

      The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) declares that our communities, our data scientists, our policymakers, and our law enforcement leaders need a fuller picture of gun violence and police use of force, especially deadly force, in order to mount a truly impactful response. Learn more about NHCSL’s recommendations.

      Learn More

      For Survivors of Gun Violence

      Survivors of a shooting incident are left to deal with its aftermath. If you are a survivor of gun violence, you may feel overwhelmed by grief, trauma, and any number of other problems that gun violence leaves in its wake. Read our guide to find the help you need.

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      Latinx Engagement

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      Did you know?

      Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021.

      Last updated: 2.13.2023