A recent Gallup poll revealed that overall, 38 percent of all Americans are not satisfied with gun control laws in the U.S., and 49 percent of all black Americans want stricter gun control laws. In fact, these numbers are an increase over the 25 percent of all Americans who held this view a year ago. Americans wanting stricter gun control is at its highest since 2001.
Why blacks are very concerned about gun control
Gun violence is one of the leading causes of death among teens in the U.S. today. The risk for a black male dying from gunshot wounds is 15.3 times higher than the risk for white males, according to research by Princeton University. Black families have a 62 percent higher risk that a male child in their family will die from a gunshot wound than a car crash.
The affect of guns in disadvantaged neighborhoods
Interestingly, although other weapons are used in homicides, the fatality rate with the use of a gun is much higher. In 1998, less than 10 percent of all violent crimes involved guns, yet two thirds of all homicides were the result of guns. This is particularly true among America's largest cities where 39 percent of gun-related homicides occur, particularly among poor urban neighborhoods.
It is clear to see why black Americans especially want stricter gun control laws to protect youth in their communities who are affected disproportionately by violent crimes committed by guns.
To read more on youth violence and its affect on black teens, visit www.futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=42&articleid=167§ionid=1077
