Survey Finds Blacks, Latinos Support Measures To Reduce Gun Violence

A national study says most African-Americans and Latinos believe addressing gun violence would improve police-community relations and reduce incarceration rates. Part of the research was done in Wisconsin.

The Joyce Foundation, in partnership with the Urban Institute and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, surveyed 1,200 black and Latino likely voters, and held discussions in a few cities, including Milwaukee.

Joyce researcher Nina Vinik said there’s a lot of support in those communities for treating gun violence, police shootings of citizens and incarceration of racial minorities as interconnected issues.

“That by reducing easy accessibility of firearms, by reducing gun trafficking, we could also help reduce the number of people in prison,” she said.

Vinik also says the survey shows if police didn’t have to respond to as many shootings, community relations would improve.

The report recommends a few gun control measures like universal background checks for gun sales, requiring reporting of stolen guns, and increased oversight of licensed gun dealers.

Vinik said those policies, along with things like requiring reporting of stolen guns to police, would help keep firearms out of the hands of high-risk individuals.

“Because a large number of guns are stolen every year and make their way into the illegal marketplace,” she said. “And currently in Wisconsin and most other states, there’s no requirement that law enforcement be notified when a gun is stolen.”

The National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups have actively opposed similar gun control policies on federal, state and local levels.