FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box 21161
2300 18th St. NW Lbby
Washington, DC 20009-9996
June 25, 2024
Doctors for America Commends Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence
Washington, D.C.: Doctors for America (DFA) commends the Surgeon General’s Advisory declaring firearm violence, a public health crisis. Today, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy (former Doctors for America founder) brought attention to the health toll that gun violence has had on Americans, detailing the size and scope of the crisis while laying out a plan of research, community risk reduction, evidence-based policy options, and mental health measures to decrease the prevalence of firearm violence.
This public health approach to addressing firearm violence is fitting because while doctors typically treat patients after a bullet is fired, they know that prevention is more effective. Cedric Dark, MD, MPH stated, “Over half of all Americans have already been touched by this unnecessary tragedy either directly, or by the injury of a family or friend, or by the threat of gun violence. We do not need to live this way. The Surgeon General’s declaration, in conjunction with the efforts of the White House Office on Gun Violence Prevention, moves us one step closer to stemming this epidemic.”
DFA’s Efforts on Gun Violence Prevention
Earlier this June, which is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and in conjunction with the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, DFA, along with many other healthcare organizations, came together to pledge to discuss firearm safety with our patients and our communities. By joining this commitment alongside us, medical professionals can take an essential step towards preventing the tragic loss of life. Together, we can bring more attention to this public health crisis and work on solutions to prevent these injuries and deaths.
Click here to sign the DFA commitment statement.
Additionally, DFA advocates worked on closing the gun show loophole, universal background checks, educating clinicians on emergency risk protection orders, and safe storage. DFA works on state and federal solutions to the gun violence epidemic in our country.
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About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. We are 27,000 physicians and medical students in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies; which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on X @drsforamerica.