2013-05-06-皮尤-Gun_Homicide_Rate_Down_49_Since_1993_Peak_Public_Unaware_63页_1mb

Summary: Gun Homicide Rate Down 49% Since 1993 Peak; Public Unaware

Key Findings

• The U.S. firearm homicide rate decreased by 49% from its peak in 1993.
  Eliminating gun homicides.
• The decline in firearm homicides occurred mainly in the 1990s,
  with slower decreases in later years.
• Most firearm homicides involve young men, particularly ages 18-40.
• Blacks are over-represented among firearm homicide victims.
• Firearm suicides now account for over 60% of all gun deaths, up from approximately 50% in the mid-1990s.
• Public awareness is low; 56% believe gun crime has increased over the past 20 years.
• The U.S. has higher gun homicide and overall homicide rates compared to many other developed nations.

Public Perception

• 82% of Americans believe gun crime is at or going up.
• Violent crime overall has decreased by 75% since 1993.
• There has been a small but statistically significant increase in gun homicides in recent years.

Conclusion

There has been a substantial long-term decline in U.S. gun homicide rates with relatively little change in recent years. However, the public remains largely unaware of these dramatic improvements in gun violence statistics.