International and interstate comparisons of homicide among young males

Article Abstract:

The homicide rate for young males in the United States is the highest among industrialized nations and is the leading cause of death among black males between the ages of 15 and 24. It is the third leading cause among white males of the same age. Homicide statistics for 1986 or 1987 from 21 developed countries, and from states within the US, are compared and evaluated. Results showed that the homicide rate in the US for males 15 through 24 (21.9 per 100,000) was 4.4 times higher than the next highest rate (5.0 in Scotland). Three-quarters of the homicides in 1987 in the US involved firearms, while fewer than one-fourth of the deaths in 14 other countries involved guns. Even in France, with the highest rate of firearm-associated homicides among these 14 countries (54 percent), the overall homicide rate was 94 percent lower compared with the US. Within the latter country, five states (California, Texas, New York, Arizona, and Florida) accounted for 56 percent of all homicides. Lower homicide rates among white males 15 to 24 tended to occur in north central and some southern regions, with the lowest rates occurring in Minnesota (1.9), Massachusetts (2.6), and Wisconsin (2.8). Firearms were used in 69 percent of the homicides among white males. For black males of the same age, the 1987 rate was 85.6 per 100,000, with the highest rates in Michigan (231.6), California (155.3), and the District of Columbia (138.6). The lowest rates for blacks were in some southern states, such as North Carolina (34.2), Kentucky (34.8), and Mississippi (35.1). Eighty-one percent of the homicides among black males were committed with a gun. In absolute numbers, more than 4,000 men aged 15 to 24 died from homicide in 1987. A brief discussion of possible explanations for international and regional variability in homicide rates is provided. Most blacks were murdered by blacks (90 percent) and whites by whites (87 percent); many victims (76 percent and 68 percent, respectively) were murdered by someone known to them. The availability of handguns in the US deserves special consideration as a contributory factor to this high homicide rate. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

International aspects, Demographic aspects

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Firearm homicide among black teenage males in metropolitan counties: comparison of death rates in two periods, 1983 through 1985 and 1987 through 1989

Article Abstract:

Deaths from firearms among black teenagers are highest in Los Angeles County, CA, Wayne County, MI, Kings County, NY, St. Louis City, MO and Baltimore City, MD. These counties ranked highest in firearm homicides in two separate time periods: 1983 through 1985 and 1987 through 1989. Between 1987 and 1989, the firearm homicide rate among black teenagers in the US rose 71%. Death records from 80 metropolitan counties show that these counties accounted for 87% of metropolitan firearm homicide victims between 1987 and 1989. Firearm homicide rates in some counties were relatively low between 1983 and 1985, but increased between 1987 and 1989. The District of Columbia ranked 16th in firearm homicides among black teenagers between 1983 and 1985, but ranked first between 1987 and 1989. Homicide statistics should be kept at the county level so that appropriate local programs can be implemented.

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Firearm and nonfirearm homicide among persons 15 through 19 years of age: differences by level of urbanization, United States, 1979 through 1989

Article Abstract:

Deaths from firearms are highest among black teenagers living in large, urban areas. An analysis of death records from all 50 states collected by the National Center for Health Statistics between 1979 and 1989 found that the firearm homicide rate among teenagers has been increasing since 1984, especially in large cities. By 1986, firearm homicide was the second-leading cause of death in teenagers. By 1989, the rate in metropolitan counties was almost five times the rate in non-metropolitan counties. The firearm homicide rate in black teenagers living in metropolitan areas was more than six times the rate in non-metropolitan areas. For white teenage males, the firearm homicide rate in metropolitan areas was three times the rate in non-metropolitan areas. The low firearm homicide rates in non-metropolitan areas in the US are still higher than those in other developed countries.

Teenagers, Youth

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