18 The volume of firearms and the ease by which they are accessed play a major role in this. 17 When compared with other developed nations, the United States has a rate of gun suicides that is 10 times higher than the average rate. Gun suicides are on the rise, particularly among young people and veteransĬlose to two-thirds of gun deaths in the United States are suicides. While the state has implemented major community-based violence interruption initiatives, it can further expand these programs to address many of these root causes of violence.Ģ. 16 When addressing violence in urban Michigan communities, policymakers should consider these issues and implement actions to address them, further complementing gun-related policies. 15 This contributes to mistrust of the police and leads youth at risk of being both victims and perpetrators of future violence to choose other means of protection and justice. According to a 2018 analysis from The Washington Post, almost 75 percent of homicides that go without an arrest in major American cities involve Black victims. As a result, perpetrators of violence against Black people in these communities are too often not brought to justice. 14 Additionally, there are often tense and distrustful relationships between these communities and the police. 13 In fact, violence in these urban regions often occurs in just a few neighborhoods that are at an economic disadvantage, are highly segregated, and have a long history of racial discrimination. In this regard, it is important to highlight that gun violence in urban communities is often the result of social and economic factors beyond easy access to firearms. In fact, from 2015 to 2019, the rate of gun homicides against young Black people in urban Michigan counties was 57 per every 100,000 people-33 times higher than gun homicides of young white people living in the same counties. Gun homicides against Black people in Michigan tend to concentrate in urban counties and affect young people ages 15 to 29. Overall, while Black people represent 15 percent of the state population, they suffer 79 percent of gun homicides. 10 With a rate of 24.83 gun homicides per every 100,000 people, Michigan’s rate of gun homicides against Black people was 30 percent higher than the national rate of homicides against Black people. From 2015 to 2019, the state presented the ninth-highest rate of gun homicides of Black people across the 50 U.S. 9 However, gun homicides in Michigan disproportionately affect Black communities. Michigan has one of the highest rates of gun homicides of Black peopleĬompared with other states, Michigan ranks 21st when it comes to overall gun homicides-a rate slightly above the national average. Yet gun homicide, particularly among Black youth gun suicide nonfatal gun injuries intimate partner gun homicide stolen guns and armed extremism remain significant challenges facing the state. Michigan has taken major steps in implementing gun safety actions. This report presents six aspects of gun violence in Michigan that are particularly alarming or above the national average and that support the need for actions and policies to further reduce and prevent gun violence. 8 In this regard, all state leaders should support additional steps to prevent gun violence. Every day, more than three people are killed with a gun and more than nine people are nonfatally injured. 7 As a result, gun violence remains a key issue that affects communities across the Great Lakes State. 6ĭespite important progress, however, many gun reform bills in Michigan have been met with opposition, particularly from Republicans in the state legislature. Whitmer correctly called gun violence a public health crisis and pledged to do even more to address it. 5 After the terrible shooting at Oxford High School in November 2020, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) announced a $75 million plan that includes targeting gun trafficking supporting programs to increase access to social as well as mental health services and expanding jobs, education, and employment opportunities in communities affected by violence. These actions have worked: Compared with other states, Michigan ranked 31st in terms of gun deaths per every 100,000 people from 2015 to 2019. 3 The state also requires private gun owners to report missing or stolen firearms. 1 The state requires individuals to have a permit before they can purchase a handgun from a private seller, 2 a form of law that a growing body of research suggests is effective at reducing gun homicides. According to the latest scorecard from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Michigan received a “C” grade for the strength of its gun laws in 2020. Michigan has taken important steps in passing laws that prevent guns from falling into the hands of individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others.
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