South Middlesex Times

Approximately 60 percent of Black Americans have experienced some form of gun violence, which has been linked to increased rates of disability, according to research conducted by Rutgers Health. The study, which surveyed 3,015 Black Americans, found a correlation between specific disabilities and exposure to various types of gun violence.

These disabilities ranged from difficulty concentrating to challenges with dressing or bathing. The types of gun violence exposure included being shot or threatened with a firearm, knowing a shooting victim, and witnessing or hearing about a shooting nearby.

"Traditionally, the majority of efforts related to gun violence have focused on reducing homicides, but this study indicates that we need to provide more support to those who face such exposures to violence beyond homicide," said Daniel Semenza, an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health’s Gun Violence Research Center and lead author of the study.

The survey revealed that over 40 percent of respondents knew a shooting victim. Additionally, 12 percent reported experiencing at least three types of gun violence exposure. The study also noted gender differences in experiences: men reported higher instances of direct threats and being shot than women.

"These numbers are striking because this was a nationally representative sample, matched to all Black Americans as a whole by age, sex, income, education and area of residence," Semenza said. He added that the findings underscored the staggering reality that nearly 60 percent of all Black adults in the US have faced exposure to gun violence.

Different types of exposure were linked more significantly with certain disabilities in men and women. For instance, men who had witnessed or heard about shootings had a 53 percent greater rate of functional disability than those who reported no exposure. Women who had been directly threatened with guns were more likely to report disabilities compared to other women.

Semenza concluded by emphasizing that while the survey could not prove causation definitively, it suggested that exposure to gun violence might shape functional disability and everyday well-being through mental trauma. He called for continued efforts to reduce gun violence and ensure resources are available to help manage the trauma resulting from such exposure.