Julia F. Weber, Esq., MSW’s Post

Every day in the U.S., 332+ people are killed or injured by guns --- which are the leading cause of death for children and teens. Simply put, the U.S. has a gun violence crisis that's also a public health crisis. Unsurprisingly, this crisis disproportionately impacts Black & Hispanic people in poor neighborhoods. Given the nature of this problem, those on the frontlines are our healthcare professionals who treat people and save their lives. We are glad that President Biden convened 160 healthcare professionals last week at the White House to address the gun violence crisis. We urge policymakers to listen to key stakeholders, like healthcare professionals on the frontlines, and make policies that effectively address the U.S. gun violence and public health crisis. #healthcare #frontlines #crisis #gunviolence #publichealth #policy #advocacy #stakeholders #disparities

Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence in America a public health crisis. Just as campaigns against smoking and traffic fatalities have saved countless lives, Dr. Murthy envisions a multipronged approach to curb gun deaths. His 32-page advisory outlines measures such as increasing funding for firearm violence prevention research; advising health workers to discuss firearm storage; and recommending safe storage laws, universal background checks, "red flag" laws, and an assault weapons ban. With gunshot wounds now surpassing car accidents as the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, and a disturbing rise in firearm suicides among young people, it’s crucial to act now. Dr. Murthy's call to action is clear: addressing gun violence with a comprehensive public health strategy is essential for the safety and well-being of our communities. Learn more about this critical issue in The New York Times article to learn more about this critical public health issue:

The CDC has unveiled crucial insights on gun violence trends in the US! Check out the Continuing Trends: Five Key Takeaways from 2023 CDC Provisional Gun Violence Data for a quick education. Stay informed: https://lnkd.in/gjv8R_Kn #CDC #GunViolence #PublicHealth #DataAnalysis

A recent NPR report highlights a sobering reality: firearms are used in only 5-6% of all suicide attempts but result in death 90% of the time–the most lethal means of suicide. This stark statistic underscores the critical need for immediate action to prevent impulsive decisions that lead to irreversible consequences. Firearm suicides account for more than half of all suicides in the United States annually. https://lnkd.in/ex_UfRp9

A recent NPR report highlights a sobering reality: firearms are used in only 5-6% of all suicide attempts but result in death 90% of the time–the most lethal means of suicide. This stark statistic underscores the critical need for immediate action to prevent impulsive decisions that lead to irreversible consequences. Firearm suicides account for more than half of all suicides in the United States annually. https://lnkd.in/g9-GtzUg

Summary: President Joe Biden has made significant investments in gun violence prevention, creating the first national Office of Gun Violence Prevention and securing over $438 million in funding. The future of gun violence prevention policy will be shaped by the winner of the 2024 election, with implications for federal action and legislation. Takeaway: The issue of gun violence prevention is at the forefront of national attention, with President Biden's administration taking substantial steps to address the problem. The outcome of the 2024 election will play a crucial role in determining the trajectory of future policies and initiatives in this area. Hashtags: #GunViolencePrevention #BidenAdministration #2024Election #FederalAction #Legislation #PublicSafety

"Suicide is a significant public health issue that must be addressed by public conversation, public policy, and public acknowledgment of the role of firearms in suicide deaths in this country. Gun ownership remains a hot topic in terms of individual rights, but the collective toll of firearm suicide must be considered if we are to educate the public about firearm access and firearm safety and suicide prevention." ~ Jane G. Tillman, PhD, ABPP Hear Dr. Tillman talk about the four R's that protect against suicide - https://lnkd.in/eE4NsZBs.

Transparency is key to providing a public benefit.

Anthony Braga coming hard after the #Surgeon_General for releasing a June advisory that affirmed gun violence as a public health crisis... but omits key criminological research on the dynamics that generate most interpersonal gun violence in America. He specifically calls out this approach as harmful "Omitting key information from a high-profile national report contributes to continued harm in our cities by keeping policymakers, practitioners and community members in the dark on effective gun violence reduction strategies." Good. Because public health researchers seem to have long fostered an ideological objection to admitting ANY benefits of policing or the criminal justice system over the health of people in minority neighborhoods (often the group with the highest risk of gun violence victimization). As Anthony writes; "The prevailing orientation of medical and public health is to ignore criminal dynamics driving recurring shootings at specific places and downplay the potential for police, prosecutors and correction officials to play a meaningful role in halting violence." See link for the full #OpenAccess article. It's a great read with lots of links for further research if you want. https://lnkd.in/eeA_PQd6

Effective solutions often call for the use of multiple approaches based upon sound empirical research. Simplistic and biased assessments often frustrate remedial efforts, and may exacerbate negative outcomes. In many cases, the level of complexity associated with a solution requires a commensurate (or advanced) level of complexity as identified with a problem.