Hate Crimes
What is the problem?
In an average year, more than 25,000 hate crimes in the US involve a firearm—69 a day.1Everytown Research analysis of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). A yearly average was developed using 12 years of the most recently available data: 2010 to 2021. Easy access to guns gives a single, hate-filled individual the means to shatter numerous lives and whole communities.
The vast majority of reported hate crimes are directed against communities of color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ people.1Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Crime Data Explorer: Hate Crime in the United States,” accessed January 13, 2022, https://bit.ly/3Gsb3v1. These hate crimes can become deadly when firearms are involved. Easy access to firearms gives a hate-filled individual the opportunity to shatter numerous lives and whole communities, as evidenced by the June 2015 shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, when a white supremacist opened fire in a church, killing nine Black worshippers;2Jason Horowitz, Nick Corasaniti, and Ashley Southall, “Nine Killed in Shooting at Black Church in Charleston,” New York Times, June 17, 2015, https://nyti.ms/2uGcqDb. the October 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, PA, when a white nationalist killed 11 worshippers and wounded six more;3Campbell Robertson, Christopher Mele, and Sabrina Tavernise, “11 Killed in Synagogue Massacre; Suspect Charged With 29 Counts,” New York Times, October 27, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/27/us/active-shooter-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting.html. the May 2022 shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, NY, when another white supremacist killed 10 Black people and wounded three more;4Mary B. Pasciak, “Tops Markets Shooter Chose AR-15 to Stoke Controversy,” Buffalo News, July 14, 2022, https://bit.ly/3PNO9DC; Craig Whitlock, David Willman, and Alex Horton, “Massacre Suspect Said He Modified Bushmaster Rifle to Hold More Ammunition,“ Washington Post, May 15, 2022, https://wapo.st/3SkEe8N. and the November 2022 shooting at Club Q, a LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, CO, when a gunman shot at least 22 people, five fatally, many of whom identified as LGBTQ+.5Colorado Springs Police Department, “Update to Shooting at Club Q – Victim Update,” November 28, 2022, https://bit.ly/3WfKP7u; Debbie Kelley, “5 Victims in Club Q Mass Shooting Identified, as Mourning Continues Around Colorado Springs,” The Gazette, January 24, 2023, https://bit.ly/3MP058B.
Which states prohibit people with hate crime convictions from having firearms?
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
California has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Colorado has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Connecticut has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Delaware has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Florida has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Hawaii has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Idaho has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Illinois has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Maine has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Maryland has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Michigan has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Minnesota has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Missouri has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Montana has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Nebraska has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Nevada has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
New Hampshire has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
New Jersey has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
New York has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Oregon has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Pennsylvania has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Rhode Island has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
South Dakota has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Tennessee has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Texas has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Utah has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Virginia has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Washington has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
West Virginia has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Wisconsin has adopted this policy
Hate Crime Prohibitor
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
Why is it an issue?
Guns make hate more deadly.
Current federal and state gun laws do not adequately address the problem. While all felonies prohibit gun possession under federal law,118 U.S.C. § 922(g) most misdemeanors, including hate crime misdemeanors, do not—even though hate crimes involving firearms were the catalyst for hate crime laws in the United States. Hate crime misdemeanors can be serious, violent acts, but under federal law, a violent or threatening hate crime misdemeanor conviction does not prohibit gun possession. While some states and Washington, DC, have laws closing this gap, many states have not taken action. This means that in parts of the country a person convicted of a violent hate crime could legally pass a background check and buy a gun.
By the numbers
25k+
In an average year, more than 25,000 hate crimes in the U.S. involve a firearm–more than 69 every day.
3/4
3 out of 4 homicides of transgender or gender expansive people are with a gun.
60%
60 percent of violent hate crime victimizations from 2015 to 2019 were believed to be motivated by bias against race, ethnicity, or national origin.
What are the solutions?
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Disarm Hate
Guns and hate are a fatal combination. In an average year, more than 25,000 hate crimes in the United States involve a firearm—more than 69 each day.1Everytown Research analysis of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). A yearly average was developed using 12 years of the most recently available data: 2010 to 2021. In parts of the US, some people convicted of hate crimes can still legally buy and have guns. Congress and state legislatures must pass laws that keep guns out of the hands of those who have been convicted of hate crimes.
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Extreme Risk Laws
When a person is in crisis and considering harming themselves or others, family members and law enforcement are often the first people to see the warning signs. Extreme Risk laws, sometimes referred to as “Red Flag” laws, allow loved ones or law enforcement to intervene by petitioning a court for an order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing guns.
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Prohibit Open Carry
Carrying firearms visibly in public, known as open carry, is a dangerous policy. It is exploited by white supremacists and opposed by law enforcement and the public. Members of hate groups regularly openly carry guns in a show of intimidation.