Firearm violence in the US has been declared a “public health crisis” by the country’s top doctor, the Surgeon General. The advisory issued by the Surgeon General emphasized the urgent need to address the issue of gun violence in the country. Firearm-related incidents have become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the US, surpassing motor vehicles, poisoning, and cancer.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has urged the US to take action by banning automatic rifles and regulating the firearms industry. However, the US Congress has historically been resistant to implementing gun control measures. Some state legislatures have taken steps to address the issue, in line with the surgeon general’s recommendations.
A poll conducted last year found that a majority of Americans are concerned about the possibility of a loved one being injured by a firearm. The alarming statistics show that over 48,000 Americans died from gun injuries in 2022. A report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) revealed that the US has significantly higher gun-related homicide rates compared to other developed countries like France and Germany.
The Surgeon General’s advisory is expected to spark controversy, especially among right-wing Republican lawmakers who have opposed Murthy’s confirmation due to his stance on gun violence. The impact of the advisory may mirror the 1964 report by the surgeon general that highlighted the dangers of smoking, ultimately leading to decreased tobacco use and industry regulations.