Gun Violence--Our Lane

Our Perspective

Gun violence is an important public health problem that is not being adequately addressed. It is multifaceted - from suicide, to mass shootings, to urban interpersonal violence, to domestic violence, to risks to children, "gun violence" is a series of tragic and chronic public health epidemics united by the fact that doctors bear witness to them all. The solution must be a comprehensive, public health-driven approach: increasing public awareness, promoting research on evidence-based solutions, building momentum for implementation of those solutions, and developing new technologies to increase safety.  As physicians, gun violence prevention is OUR job and is squarely in OUR lane. It is our responsibility to lead on this public health issue.

The Role of DFA Physicians - What We Stand For

Doctors for America physicians and medical trainees are on the front lines bearing witness to the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. We treat the immediate injuries caused by bullets and provide care for long term effects on victims, families and communities.

We know that gun violence is a multifaceted public health crisis. We also know that gun safety is clearly "our lane" - physicians, medical students, and other health professionals should be leading the discussion about gun violence as a public health crisis and presenting data and patient stories to inform discussions on solutions. We will work tirelessly until gun violence is a thing of the past.

Doctors for America has led the effort to restore funding for research on gun violence, critical to designing effective strategies for treatment and prevention. We support universal background checks and screening for safe storage of guns -- particularly in homes with children. We support evidence-based policies limiting gun possession by high-risk individuals.  We advocate the development of technologies that make guns safer for gun owners, their families and communities. We are committed to increase the public’s awareness of gun violence and the actions people can take to reduce risk to themselves and their families.  We support increased attention and support for secondary victims of gun violence.

What are DFA's current activities?

  • A section reviewing/describing what DFA is doing on GVP

  • Repository of advocacy guides, how-to, social media, etc.


STORY PORTAL & COLLAGE 

  • Story portal for submission of stories, testimony, support for legislation, etc.

    • A place for story board display

  • A place for collage

(Placeholder)


Gun Violence Research: the fight for funding and recent studies

A section on Gun Violence Research with links to sites that list recent/important articles

  • Links to AFFIRM and other orgs focused on this

  • APHA

Current legislation and initiatives we are watching

  • A section on legislation

    • National

    • State

    • Gun laws passed

    • Gun laws pending

    • Public health impact of gun laws?

Resources for Doctors and other Health Professionals


Suicide and Gun Violence

  • Section on suicide prevention

    • Safer Homes Task Force https://depts.washington.edu/saferwa/training/medical-providers/


Evidenced-Based Solutions & Novel Proposals

  • A section on Technological solutions

  • National Bureau of Firearm Safety


Building Awareness through Campaigns and Media - Social Media, Current Campaigns, Recent Op-Eds and Articles of Interest

  • A section on Awareness/media

    • Social media connections/strategy

    • Campaigns under way

    • A section for Dr. Op Eds, letters to editor, articles in lay press

Our Partners

  • Links to other organizations working on GVP

Upcoming Events and Calendar

  • Calendar of events

    • (conferences

    • demonstrations

    • Workshops

    • Votes

  • Monthly feature (article,editorial, etc)

 

Op-Eds/LTEs/Online Articles/Other Writing from Physicians/Providers:


Other Helpful Op-Eds/Opinion Pieces


Academic Writing (Data, Studies, Viewpoint-style pieces in academic journals)




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