Black male homicides outpace whites' in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The homicide rate of black men in Wisconsin outpaced that of white men in the state in 2001, a new study shows.

The homicide by firearm rate for black men was 31 times that of white men, and the non-firearm related homicide rate for black men was 10 times that of white men in 2001, according to the study released Thursday.

The Firearm Injury Center, in its fifth annual statistical report of violent injuries in Wisconsin, said 877 people died in Wisconsin from violent injury in 2001. Suicides accounted for 73.9 percent of those injuries.

Wisconsin's homicide rate was about 44 percent lower than the national average. Nationwide, the state's homicide rate ranked 32nd and its suicide rate ranked 25th, the report found.

Violent firearm fatalities increased in 2001 in each of the state's public health regions except southeastern Wisconsin, which includes Milwaukee County, the report said.

Excluding Milwaukee County, Wisconsin homicides increased 67 percent, from 48 in 2000 to 80 in 2001, the study found. In southeastern Wisconsin, violent fatalities declined to 196 in 2001 from 206 the previous year.

The study also found:

--33 black men ages 20 to 29 and 20 black men ages 11 to 19 died in incidents involving firearms in 2001.

--13 white men ages 20 to 29 and four white men ages 11 to 19 died in incidents involving firearms in 2001.

Despite the high homicide rate among blacks, the study's top investigator said he sees signs local efforts are having an effect.

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Concealed weapons bill headed back to Senate

MADISON (AP) -- A bill that would end the state's 130-year-old ban on concealed weapons is headed back to the state Senate, with more exemptions in place than before.

Black male homicides outpace whites' in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The homicide rate of black men in Wisconsin outpaced that of white men in the state in 2001, a new study shows.

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