U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy outlines the scope of firearm violence, emphasizing a public health approach can guide the nation's strategy, likening it to past successes like addressing tobacco-related disease and motor vehicle crashes.
Firearm-related injuries have been the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents since 2020, with gun violence taking both a physical and mental toll on survivors, families, and communities.
Murthy's recommendations in the advisory, though not enforceable, include increasing federal funding for gun violence prevention research, more community investment in educational and mental health resources, and nationwide policy changes such as an assault weapons ban.
U.S. Surgeon General Murthy, in his position since 2021, has previously issued advisories on health issues like loneliness, health misinformation, and social media's impact on youth mental health, but the gun violence declaration marks a significant step in addressing a critical public health crisis.
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