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Gun Violence in Illinois
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From 1999 to 2006 guns killed 9,054 Illinois residents.1
In 2006, 1,036 people died from firearm-related injuries in Illinois, 625
of which were homicides.2
In 2006, African Americans, which represent 15% of the state’s
population, were victims in 50% or 520 of firearm-related deaths in
Illinois. Of these deaths, 89% were homicides.
3
In 2006, guns were used in 372 suicides in Illinois and 80% of these
suicides were committed by white males.4
In Illinois, from 1999-2006, 59 children and young people ages 0-25 in
Illinois died from unintentional gunshot wounds.5
In 2006, 369 children and young people ages 0-25 in Illinois were killed by guns. From 1999 to 2006, 3,369 children and young people have been killed by guns in Illinois.6
From January to November 2009, 344 people were murdered in Chicago with guns, which accounted for 82% of the total homicides for the city.7
From January to November 2009, 213 children and young people ages 0-25
were murdered in Chicago, the majority by guns.8
The 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (grades 9-12)
found that 4% of Illinois high school students (excluding Chicago
students) reported having carried a gun at least once in the last 30
days. Of Chicago students surveyed in 2007, 5% reported having
carried a gun at least once in the last 30 days.9
In 2005, firearms were
the primary weapon used in violent deaths in Kane, Cook, and Peoria
counties. Firearms account for more violent deaths than all other
means combined.10
In 2005, the majority (60%) of violent deaths among children
and youth were committed with firearms in Kane, Cook, and Peoria
counties. Of these deaths, 89 were homicides, five were suicides and
two were unintentional firearm deaths.11
Firearms were used as a weapon in 10 out of 14 murder-suicide
incidents in Kane, Cook, and Peoria counties in 2005, or 70% of the
time. Children witnessed or were present at eight of the 14
murder-suicide incidents, or 57% of the time.12
1 2006 is the most recent year for which state-level data is
available on
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Web-based Injury Statistics Query
and Reporting System (WISQARS) Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2006.
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 Id.
5 Id.
6 Id.
7 Chicago Police Department, 2009 Index Crime Statistics,
Crime Summary January-November 2009.
8 Id.
9 Children’s Memorial Research Center,
Child Health Data Lab,
2007 Youth
Risk Behavior Survey.
10. Children’s Memorial
Research Center, Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IDVRS),
Volume
1, Issue 1 – August 2007.
11
Children’s Memorial Research Center,
Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IDVRS),
Volume 1, Issue 2 – June 2008.
12 Children’s Memorial Research Center,
Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IDVRS),
Volume
1, Issue 1 – August 2007. |
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