Unequal by the gun: Four decades of the Black-White firearm homicide gap.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Firearm homicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with substantial racial disparities documented over time. Black Americans experience disproportionately higher rates of firearm homicide compared to White Americans, reflecting long-standing social, economic, and structural inequities. This study contributes to understanding the magnitude and trends of this disparity.

Objective

We investigate the Black-White population-level disparity in firearm homicide rates over 45 years in the United States and estimate the fraction of excess deaths in the Black population attributable to firearm homicides.

Methods

We measure racial disparities in firearm homicides as the ratio of age-adjusted rates between Black and White populations. Using annual natio

SUBMITTER: Knorre A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12935247 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature