Last week the US Surgeon General declared firearm violence a public health crisis. While this is not a declaration of a public health emergency and federal agencies won’t get any added regulatory authority from the declaration, it nevertheless underscores the urgent need to address the devastating impact of firearms on public health across the United States.
The landmark report highlights that firearm-related deaths have reached unprecedented levels, with an alarming increase in homicides and suicides linked to gun violence.
See the Report: Firearm Violence A Public Health Crisis is America
The Surgeon General’s advisory emphasizes the role of public health in mitigating this crisis. It calls for a multi-faceted approach, including better data collection, enhanced mental health services, and robust community engagement to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths.
Importantly, it advocates for evidence-based policies such as universal background checks, safe storage laws, and interventions targeted at high-risk individuals.
This announcement aligns with findings from our comprehensive report which outlines the characteristics of the gun violence crisis in Arizona and offers effective policy interventions.
The AZPHA report identifies key issues, including the proliferation of firearms, lack of regulation, and the significant toll on communities, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and minorities. In Arizona, the situation is particularly dire, with firearm deaths surpassing the national average. Indeed, firearms are the leading cause of death among kids 0-19 in Arizona, surpassing car crashes and poisonings (e.g. fentanyl).
See Our Report: Firearm Violence in Arizona – Data to Support Prevention Policies
Our report recommends policies like expanding background checks, implementing extreme risk protection orders, and promoting community-based violence prevention programs. These interventions are crucial for reducing the burden of firearm violence and protecting public health.
Our hope is that the 2025 legislature will be open to considering and passing some of the foundational evidence-based laws that are known to reduce deaths like child access prevention laws.
This declaration from the Surgeon General is a welcome call to action, urging policymakers and communities to recognize gun violence as a pressing public health issue and to work collectively towards effective solutions.
How does gun violence impact the community, and what can be done? – Arizona PBS
Note: This report is an ‘Advisory’ rather than a full Surgeon General’s Report. Advisories provide recommendations for how the issue should be addressed. Surgeon General full reports by contrast are landmark publications. For example, in 1964, a Surgeon General Report concluded that cigarette smoking was a cause of lung cancer. That report and more than a dozen follow-ups sparked national efforts that helped cut smoking rates.
