The U.S. surgeon general on Tuesday declared gun violence an urgent public health crisis, calling for the “collective commitment of the nation” to change course.
Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the advisory advocating for a public health approach in responding to the emergency like those that have successfully reduced smoking-related disease and car crash deaths. “It is up to us to take on this generational challenge with the urgency and clarity the moment demands,” the advisory reads. “The safety and well‑being of our children and future generations are at stake.”
The advisory—which is the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to gun violence—lays bare the scale and complexity of the threat that firearms pose to Americans’ health.
