CTTO
Washington, D.C. – In a historic move, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on Tuesday declaring gun violence a “public health crisis” and urging comprehensive firearm controls. This landmark report, the first of its kind from a surgeon general, seeks to address an issue that has long been stymied by political opposition.
Nominated by President Joe Biden, Murthy’s report emphasizes the urgency of the gun violence epidemic in America, likening its potential impact to that of the 1960s tobacco report, which significantly shifted public perception and policy regarding smoking.
“Firearm violence is an urgent public health crisis that has led to loss of life, unimaginable pain, and profound grief for far too many Americans,” Murthy stated. “We don’t have to continue down this path, and we don’t have to subject our children to the ongoing horror of firearm violence in America.”
The advisory highlights stark statistics, noting that firearms have become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1-19, surpassing motor vehicle incidents. In 2022 alone, over 48,000 people died due to firearms, with Black Americans and men being disproportionately affected. The report also underscores a 20.1 percent increase in gun-related suicides from 2012 to 2022, which now represent more than half of all gun deaths.
Murthy’s recommendations include investments in research, community education, mental health support, and stricter firearm controls such as mandatory safe storage, universal background checks, and a ban on assault weapons. These proposals echo calls from President Biden and gun control advocates, who have long pushed for similar measures amidst the country’s frequent mass shootings.
However, the advisory has faced swift backlash from gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA). “America has a crime problem caused by criminals,” said Randy Kozuch, director of the NRA’s lobbying arm, dismissing the advisory as “an extension of the Biden Administration’s war on law-abiding gun owners.”
Despite the contentious political landscape, Murthy remains hopeful. “It will take the collective commitment of our nation to turn the tide on firearm violence,” he asserted, aiming to shift the conversation from a political debate to a public health issue.
Murthy praised the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed by Congress in 2022, which enhanced background checks and supported state “Red Flag” laws to confiscate firearms from high-risk individuals. Attorney General Merrick Garland, speaking in Cleveland, Ohio, highlighted the act’s impact, noting it had prevented 800 firearm purchases by legally prohibited young individuals. Garland also announced a new Justice Department rule allowing gun dealers to check an FBI database for stolen firearms.
Murthy’s advisory marks a significant step in addressing gun violence as a public health crisis, aiming to galvanize public and political will to tackle a problem that has plagued the nation for decades.