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New data shows Hispanics twice as likely to be killed by gun violence in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. — Advocates for preventing gun violence will be at the University of Central Florida Tuesday afternoon to meet with students.

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The meeting comes after data from Giffords Florida found the number of Hispanics getting killed with guns is twice the corresponding number of non-Hispanics.

According to data from the CDC, it was found that more than 5,000 Hispanics died from gun violence in 2020, the most recent year with the available data.

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It is also reported that Hispanics are dying from police shootings 1.4 times more than non-Hispanics, and nearly 53% of gun violence homicide victims in Florida are African-American men, even though they make up less than 9% of the state’s population.

Earlier this year, Congress came together to pass the bipartisan Safer Communities Act in response to the deadly school shooting in Uvalde. It clarified who needs a federal license to buy and sell firearms, imposed an enhanced background check review process and put $100 million toward the national criminal instant background check.

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After the meeting at UCF, Giffords Florida will also be hosting a community block party in Kissimmee that’s open to the public.

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.

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