June 25, 2024
The US Surgeon General did just that. For the first time ever – he issued a Surgeon General’s warning declaring firearm violence a public health crisis.
So what does that mean?
Well – Surgeon Generals give warnings like this from time to time. In the past – there have been surgeon general warnings about things like tobacco and alcohol. But today, the Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling attention to the significant physical and mental toll gun violence is taking on Americans and their communities.
The advisory comes with lots of data that proves it….including the fact that since 2020, firearms have been the number one cause of death for children under the age of 19. More than car accidents, drug overdoses and cancer. It also found firearm related suicides increased by 20% in the ten-year period between 2012 and 2022. The biggest increase sadly came from kids and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24. Data shows firearm related death among young people is a uniquely American problem. The United States outpaces all other advanced countries when it comes to youth firearm death – by a lot.
When you zoom out to all age groups – according to the surgeon general – in 2022 suicide by firearm accounted for more than half of the deaths (56.1%) but a close second was firearm related homicide (40.8%). And of those homicides, those in the black community saw the highest rates, and when it comes to suicides – male military veterans were disproportionately affected.
When it comes to mass shootings, the Surgeon General points out between 2020 and 2023, the United States saw 600 mass shootings. That is significantly more than the previous three years when 400 incidents were reported. While 600 sounds like a large number –the Surgeon General says mass shootings only make up about 1% of all firearm-related deaths in the United States. But here’s the thing — yes that percentage is obviously small –but the surgeon general says mass shootings have an outsized traumatic impact on the community where they happen and cause an outsized negative perception of public safety.
The Surgeon General’s 40 page report also found just the presence of a firearm in the home is associated with a higher risk of being a victim of homicide and. And an unlocked firearm in the home is associated with higher risk of suicide and unintentional firearm injury among kids and adolescents.
So – now what?
Well Dr. Murthy wants the firearm conversation to shift among Americans and lawmakers. He wants to start taking a public health approach to firearm violence. He is asking for increased funding for more gun violence research to inform more prevention strategies. He wants to see things like community violence interventions. And improved access to mental health care for those exposed to or at risk of firearm violence.
Read the Surgeon General warning here.
