GUN VIOLENCE DESTROYS
COMMUNITIES
Aside from death and injury, gun violence destroys entire communities. It causes a decrease in property values and economic development, perpetuates urban flight, and subjects children to horrific traumas; as well as causing many of them to struggle in school and increasing their risk of becoming a victim or perpetrator of gun violence. While a variety of root causes are responsible for community gun violence, including poverty and structural racism, gun violence in and of itself is the primary driver of further violence, creating this vicious and devastating cycle.
708
Wisconsinites are killed by guns every year.
140% increase in gun homicides from 2013 to 2022
BY THE NUMBERS: DANE COUNTY
ROOT OF THE
ADDRESSING THE
PROBLEM
EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE
EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE
INCOME INEQUALITY
HOUSING INSTABILITY
UNDER/UN EMPLOYMENT
FOOD INSECURITY
HEALTHCARE
GUN AVAILABILITY
INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
POOR EDUCATION
POVERTY
Poverty and violence often coexist in the same communities, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. Economic hardships, lack of opportunities, and social exclusion can push people into violent behavior as a form of self-defense or a way to gain status. As people engage in violent acts, they may become entangled in the criminal justice system or face retaliation, further entrenching them in cycles of violence and poverty.
Economic Stress
Poverty creates significant economic stress, which can lead to frustration, anger, anxiety, and desperation. These emotional responses can sometimes manifest in violent behavior, including the use of firearms. Additionally, financial strain may lead some individuals to resort to illegal activities like drug trafficking or theft to survive, which can increase exposure to gun violence.
Social Disadvantage
Impoverished neighborhoods may lack access to resources that could help reduce violence: e.g. community centers, mental health services, youth programs, and conflict mediation resources. This lack of support makes it harder to address the root causes of violence and prevent gun-related crimes.
Residents of the neighborhoods lacking in society's economic and social systems may feel excluded, unvalued, and socially disenfranchised, which may lead them to engage in violent behavior as a form of resistance or retaliation against perceived inequality.
Structural Racism
Poverty is often racially stratified, with marginalized communities—particularly Black, Latino, and Indigenous populations—experiencing both economic and social disadvantages. Structural racism and historical inequalities often exacerbate the effects of poverty on gun violence, leading to higher rates of violence in these communities.
In communities with a higher proportion of BIPOC people, structural racism may lead to heightened police presence. This can sometimes lead to tensions, especially if residents feel they are being unfairly targeted or surveilled. These tensions can escalate into violent confrontations, sometimes involving firearms.
INCOME
INEQUALITY
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High levels of income inequality correlates with increased gun violence due to social strain and feelings of marginalization among lower-income groups.
Economic disparity can spark resentment and frustration, particularly in communities with stark divisions between the wealthy and the poor, leading to a sense of hopelessness.
​The divide erodes social cohesion, weakening community ties and reducing a shared responsibility for safety, which increases the likelihood of violence.
​Income inequality exacerbates poverty, unemployment, and disenfranchisement, particularly in communities of color, where access to education, resources, and social mobility is limited due to structural racism.
In these communities, individuals may turn to crime or violence out of desperation or frustration, with firearms providing a means to act out those frustrations.
​Disenfranchised people, feeling excluded from society’s economic and social systems, may resort to violence as a form of resistance or retaliation against systemic inequities.
03
HOUSING
INSTABILITY
When people cannot secure stable housing, communities become fragmented. This instability weakens social ties and makes neighborhoods more susceptible to gun violence and other crime. Individuals in unstable housing situations may feel marginalized and frustrated, which increases the likelihood of engaging in violent behavior: one of the many reasons why areas with high levels of housing insecurity often also experience higher rates of violence.
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Living in these environments can normalize violent behavior and create a cycle where individuals feel compelled to use guns for protection or in conflict situations.
Additionally, the lack of stable housing often correlates with limited access to education, employment, and social services. This can create a sense of hopelessness, pushing individuals toward illegal activities, including gun violence.
04
EXPOSURE
TO VIOLENCE
Economic Stress
Growing up in environments where gun violence is normalized can increase the likelihood of individuals becoming involved in violence later in life, either as victims or perpetrators.
Normalization of violence: In some impoverished neighborhoods, the prevalence of gun violence may become normalized, with individuals perceiving firearms as necessary tools for self-defense or status within certain social circles, leading to higher rates of gun violence.
Cycle of trauma: Individuals in impoverished areas may be exposed to trauma, which can have long-lasting psychological effects. Trauma can lead to aggressive behavior and an increased likelihood of using violence (including firearms) to solve problems or defend oneself.
05
UNDER & UN
EMPLOYMENT
Research shows that areas with high income inequality often experience higher rates of gun violence for numerous reasons. High levels of income inequality can create feelings of resentment and frustration among those who feel marginalized or left behind. This tension divides communities -- where wealthier individuals live separate from those in poverty -- weakening social cohesion and reducing the sense of shared responsibility for community safety, thus increasing the likelihood of violence.
People who feel excluded from society's economic and social systems may be more likely to engage in violent behavior as a form of resistance or retaliation against perceived inequality.
06
POOR
EDUCATION
writing on chalkboard animation?
bell ringing
school bus
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Lack of education can limit job opportunities, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and increasing feelings of hopelessness, which can lead to violent behavior.
the lack of quality education and job opportunities can limit individuals' future prospects, leading to frustration and hopelessness. This lack of opportunity can sometimes contribute to crime, including violent crimes.
Research shows that areas with high income inequality often experience higher rates of gun violence for numerous reasons. High levels of income inequality can create feelings of resentment and frustration among those who feel marginalized or left behind. This tension divides communities -- where wealthier individuals live separate from those in poverty -- weakening social cohesion and reducing the sense of shared responsibility for community safety, thus increasing the likelihood of violence.
People who feel excluded from society's economic and social systems may be more likely to engage in violent behavior as a form of resistance or retaliation against perceived inequality.
06
FOOD
INSECURITY
GUN
AVAILABILITY
HEALTHCARE
INTIMATE PARTNER
VIOLENCE & FEMICIDE
RACIAL DISPARITIES
IN GUN VIOLENCE
More than HALF of Madison’s gun crime victims are BLACK
While making up 7% of Madison’s population, Black people were 55% of the victims from gun assaults resulting in injury or death over the last five years. Black Madisonians are 19 times more likely than a White Madisonian to become a victim of firearms.
Black Americans represent the majority of gun homicide victims. In fact, Black Americans are 12 times more likely than white Americans to die by gun homicide.14
The median Dane County black household’s income is 45 percent that of the median white household.
75% of homicides—which cluster in cities—involve guns, and the majority affect young Black and Latino men living in historically underfunded neighborhoods.
Madison's Black Population
19,600 (2022)
Madison's Population
272,900 (2022)
Data from census.gov
WE HAVE HOPE
​The cycle of gun violence can and must be interrupted. Evidence-based methods have been proven successful in communities across the US and can be modified to be impactful in Dane County. While thousands are affected by community gun violence, only a small group are at high-risk for pulling the trigger. By focusing individualized programming on the small groups most likely to shoot and supporting the communities most impacted, we can save thousands of lives.
Resources / Further Reading
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