High School Students Who Carried a Weapon in the Past 30 Days, by Sex and Race/Ethnicity: 1993–2005

Generally, the percentage of students carrying weapons has decreased during this period in each racial/ethnic category. Among males, non-Hispanic Black males were most likely to have carried a weapon in 1993, however, by 2005, non-Hispanic White males were most likely to have carried a weapon. More than 38 percent of non-Hispanic Black males carried a weapon in 1993, while only 31.4 percent did so in 2005, compared to more than 33 percent of non-Hispanic White males in 1993 and 31.4 percent in 2005. Approximately 37 percent of Hispanic males carried a weapon in the past month in 1993, compared to 23.7 percent in 2005.

Among females, non-Hispanic Black females were most likely to carry a weapon in 1993 (19 percent) and in 2005 (9.4 percent). Non-Hispanic White females were least likely to carry a weapon in 1993 and 2005 (6.9 and 6.0 percent, respectively). More than 11 percent of Hispanic females carried a weapon in 1993, compared to 7.8 percent in 2005. Percent of students in 2005:

  • Non-Hispanic White male: 31.4%
  • Hispanic male: 29.8%
  • Non-Hispanic Black male: 23.7%
  • Non-Hispanic Black female: 9.4%
  • Hispanic female: 7.8%
  • Non-Hispanic White female: 6.0%

Source: Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth risk behavior surveillance: United States, 2005. MMWR, Vol. 55, No. SS-5; 2006.

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