U.S. gun homicides reached highest level in 25 years during Covid pandemic, CDC says

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gun homicides in the U.S. reached their highest level in 25 years during the Covid-19 epidemic.

According to a CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, homicides from guns rose to the highest level since 1994. The homicide rate from firearms went up to 6.1 per 100,000 people in 2020.

More than 19,000 people were killed by guns in 2020 compared with more than 14,000 the year before, according to the CDC report. Homicides from gun violence increased among people of every age, race, and location, and in every region of the nation.

Black Americans had the highest rate of gun violence, with the homicide rate increasing by 40% to 26.6 per 100,000 people. Black males ages 10 to 24 had a firearm homicide rate 21.6 times higher than white males of the same age.

Among Native Americans, gun homicides went up 27% to 8.1 per 100,000 people, while Hispanics and whites went up 26% and 22%, respectively. The firearm homicide rate decreased among Asian Americans.

During the first year of the Pandemic, suicides involving a firearm increased to 8.1 per 100,000 people. The suicide rate with guns was higher for Native Americans than whites.

In the U.S., guns are involved in 80% of homicides and 50% of suicides in 2020. There were more than 24,000 suicides in 2020.

The study found that killings and suicides with guns were related to poverty. The counties with the highest poverty rates were more likely to have firearm killings and suicide rates that were 4.5 and 1.3 times higher than counties with the lowest poverty levels. According to the CDC, blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans were more likely to live in counties with higher poverty rates.

The study did not investigate the reasons for the dramatic increase in firearm homicides, but the CDC said the increase may have been caused by the Pandemic.

At the height of the crisis in April 2020, the unemployment rate hit 14.7%, with millions of people losing their jobs. Black Americans were especially hard hit by the economic downturn. The murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer led to nationwide protests.

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.