Surgeon General Takes a Stand
The U.S Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has called gun violence a public health crisis. This urgent statement follows a series of recent shootings across the country, with many lives lost or changed forever.
Dr. Murthy issued this bold call to action on Tuesday. He called on Americans to go to war against gun violence with the same energy we used in past fights against tobacco use and car crash injuries. Murthy is also calling for a ban on automatic rifles and wants to check the background of everyone buying guns. He’s asking for laws to restrict guns in public and make sure guns are stored safely at home. If people don’t follow these rules, he wants laws to be passed to make them face penalties.
“We all want to feel safe in our communities,” Dr. Murthy said. In an interview with The Associated Press, he added, “We should be able to go to school, work, shop, or worship without worrying that our lives could be at risk.”
Mental Health Focus
Dr. Murthy also put spotlight on mental health care as part of the solution. He stressed the need for more resources to support those affected by gun violence. This includes healthcare that considers the trauma they’ve been through and services offered in schools. These ideas were outlined in a 39-page advice release from his office – the first one they’ve ever made about deaths from firearms.
The way Dr. Murthy’s advice release is focused on gun violence is similar to how the Surgeon General’s office tackled smoking back in 1964. Then, Dr. Luther Terry made a landmark advice release which actually led to less smoking in the U.S.
Dr. Murthy firmly believes that now is the time to move the gun violence problem from the political arena and into the public health space. Just like we did with smoking over fifty years ago.
Bleak Snapshot of U.S Gun Violence
A nonprofit called the Gun Violence Archive, which keeps track of how many times guns are responsible for four or more people getting hurt or killed, has already documented 235 mass shootings in the U.S in 2024. Alarmingly, more and more people under the age of 35 are ending their own lives using firearms.
What’s Next?
Dr. Murthy’s declaration is a wake-up call to everyone. Gun violence isn’t a problem for one group of people or one part of the country. It’s something all of us have to face together. If we use the same passion and intensity we used to win our fight against tobacco and car accident injuries, we can make America safer.
So now it’s up to you, to us, to make a change. Remember: gun violence isn’t just an issue, it’s a public health crisis. And if we want to end it, every single one of us has to take action. It’s time for us to step up, get informed, and get involved. Let’s use the tools and the resources we already have at our disposal to make a difference and protect the health of all Americans.