Over the Fourth of July weekend of this year, there were mass shootings in Baltimore, Fort Worth, Shreveport, Washington DC, Tampa, and Philadelphia. They happened at block parties, parking lots and celebrations.
These acts of violence are intense and underscore the firearms problem we have in the United States. Even though these tragic events are the ones widely reported in the media, the data show that the largest number of deaths caused by firearms are suicides. According to Pewresearch.org, 54% of all deaths due to guns in 2021 were suicides and 43% were murders. The remaining causes were accidental deaths, involved law enforcement or the circumstances were undetermined.
Guns are used in 55% of all suicides in the US and in 81% of all murders in the US. According to the CDC there were nearly 49,000 firearm deaths in the US in 2021. Of all firearm deaths. 86% are male.
Compared to other developed countries, the United States has the highest mortality rate due to firearms. In 2020 the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the U.S. was gun violence. Although it is difficult to calculate the cost of firearm injuries, the Government Accountability Office estimates that hospital costs for gun injury care in 2019 were over $1 billion a year, not including physician fees, which would add about 20% to this figure. There are about 30,000 hospital stays and 50,000 emergency room visits a year due to gun injuries, of which 60% are paid for by Medicaid and other public coverage.
Medical professionals can be active in advocating for common sense regulations and laws to decrease the injuries caused by guns. The AMA has adopted new policies on firearm violence in June of this year, including calling for strengthened background checks and preventing sales of multiple firearms to the same purchaser within five days. It also urges support for medical professionals in utilizing extreme risk protection orders to prevent firearm violence among high-risk patients and is calling on social media companies to remove posts glorifying firearm violence.
These positions are supported by a 2021 study by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions that used statistics compiled by the CDC. It called for prohibiting purchases, and removing firearms from individuals who have a higher propensity for violence. It also called for states to prohibit the open carry of firearms in public places, strong concealed carry laws, and the repeal of “stand your ground” laws. Of course, many states are taking steps that are the exact opposite to those recommendations.
The Public and Environmental Health Committee of SSVMS has listened to several presentations and discussions regarding the danger that firearms, as currently available in our country, pose to our community. During a discussion among members of the committee, it was agreed that the situation is a public health emergency.
The committee has made several recommendations, including:
It is time for CMA to reconvene a task force to update the 2017 position statement on firearms violence. The members of the task force, which should include experts on firearms violence and policy, could build on the 2017 document but make bolder recommendations.
Join groups that advocate for the reversal of the Supreme Court’s Heller decision that interprets the Second Amendment ignoring the need for a “well regulated militia” and goes against all other precedent.
Support legislation that would put licensure requirements on firearms ownership that is similar to automobiles, including permits, insurance, tests, and proven skills.
Make victims of firearms violence eligible for government sponsored health insurance.
Advocate for more safety locks, such as using the owner's fingerprint to unlock the weapon.
Tax firearm sales to fund education on firearm safety and violence prevention programs.
Use the existing requirements to acquire a concealed carry permit in California as a template for all weapons possession.
SSVMS should sponsor a public education campaign on firearms safety and violence prevention using experts to help focus the message.
Although not all SSVMS members may agree with all the policy recommendations from the Public and Environmental Health Committee or the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, one thing we can agree on is that gun violence is a public health emergency in our country and physicians have a role in advocating for common sense policies that would decrease the slaughter in our communities.
