Pennsylvania leads the U.S. in the rate of black homicide victimization, says an analysis of FBI Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data by the Violence Policy Center (VPC). The annual study uses 2006 data–the most recent data available–and ranks the 50 states according to their black homicide victimization rates. The study found that firearms, usually handguns, were overwhelmingly the weapon of choice in the homicides. This is the third year that the VPC has issued the report and the second time in three years that Pennsylvania has topped the ranking.
The top five states with their corresponding black homicide victimization rate are: 1) Pennsylvania, 36.86 per 100,000; 2) Michigan, 33.40 per 100,000; 3) Indiana, 32.65 per 100,000; 4) Kansas, 32.47 per
100,000; and, 5) Nevada, 32.26 per 100,000. Said Josh Sugarmann, VPC executive director, “While Pennsylvania has the highest rate of black homicide victimization, this is a crisis that is devastating black teens and adults across our nation. The key role played by guns in black homicide victimization cannot be denied and must be addressed.”