Firearm deaths are surging across the United States, with a record number of people killed in 2021. As America’s gun epidemic continues to escalate, a new study revealed the groups who are most likely to be victims.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed firearm deaths over the past three decades. More than a million people have lost their lives since 1990. During the pandemic, there was an unprecedented 25% rise in gun fatalities. Men are significantly more at risk, accounting for 86% of firearm deaths. Black men aged 20-24 accounted for 142 deaths out of every 100,000, nearly 10 times higher than the overall firearm death rate. Black and Hispanic male homicide rates are among are highest around ages 20-24, while they are highest at ages 30-34 for white men.
Last year, there were 506 firearm homicides in Philadelphia, and the city is following a similar pace this year. Major Jim Kenney noted in a recent interview that “gun violence destroys lives, damages communities, and diminishes the well-being of our entire city.”
Victims of crime can suffer lifelong trauma, in addition to injuries from the crime itself. In Pennsylvania, you can pursue compensatory damages in civil court, along with criminal sanctions against the attacker. Please contact us to discuss the details of what happened to you. As former prosecutors and victims’ advocates, we understand both the criminal and civil courts and can help.