Gun Violence and Public Health

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What then would a public health response to gun violence add to existing efforts to reduce violence from firearms and what might physicians contribute?

A public health approach could:

• Define the problem through rigorous research.

• Describe the root causes of violence and the role of firearms in the most lethal cases.

• Describe who is most at risk as victims and as perpetrators.

• Define what factors increase the prevalence of guns and when they are used.

• Demonstrate how physicians and other health care providers can utilize data to advocate for legislative and policy changes to decrease gun violence.

• Promote legislation based on research data that restrict the availability of guns for those with intent to engage in criminal acts or harm themselves or others, e.g., universal background checks and “Red Flag” laws aimed at those with a high predilection for violence.

• Promote strong gun safety laws, e.g., mandatory gun locks so that a stolen gun or a gun found by a child cannot be fired. (If a cell phone is stolen it is basically useless without the entry passcode—why not a gun?). And mandate that firearms must be stored safely in locked areas and kept separate from ammunition.

• Conduct research into the societal factors that cause increased stress, isolation, and anger that leads to acts of violence.

• Encourage physicians and their staff to educate patients/ families about firearm safety including locked storage of guns and separation of guns from ammunition.

• Create outcome studies to evaluate what works and how to implement successful intervention strategies to reduce gun violence in our communities.

Morbidity and mortality from firearms, whether intentional or accidental, remain serious risks for everyone in our community. Physicians and their health care colleagues have a central role to play to recognize risk (are there guns at home, are they secured safely, are there high stress situations including depression, isolation, domestic or other forms of abuse present?) and to advocate for “common sense” gun legislation that improves safety and restricts highly lethal firearms and accessories, e.g., assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines that have played devastating roles in our many mass shootings.

Gun violence is indeed a major public health concern, destroying not only the lives of victims and families but also dramatically impacting the well-being of the entire community. Through the dedicated efforts of health care providers, law enforcement, school officials, community agencies and all committed citizens, this epidemic can be overcome.