U.S. Surgeon General advocates for a combined effort to curb firearm-related violence within the nation.
The Surgeon General's Office has issued an advisory focusing on the severe impact of gun violence on survivors, communities, and mental health in the United States. This advisory is typically used to highlight significant public health issues, as per the US Department of Health and Human Services. Unlike traditional surgeon general reports, advisories are generally shorter, such as the well-known 1964 report about the dangers of smoking that featured a comprehensive scientific review.
Tuesday's advisory highlights the devastating nature of gun violence in America and suggests public health strategies to mitigate it.
In 2022, more than 48,000 people in the U.S. died due to firearm-related injuries, according to provisional data. This number includes homicides, suicides, and unintentional deaths.
The rate of firearm-related deaths in the U.S. has been increasing, reaching a three-decade high in 2021. However, since then, data shows a decrease in gun-related homicides, while the number of gun-related suicides has remained steady, according to the advisory.
While mass shootings are still uncommon, accounting for about 1% of gun deaths, the number of mass shooting incidents has been rising, according to the advisory.
A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in April of last year indicated that gun violence is a common occurrence in American lives. More than half of U.S. adults have experienced a firearm-related incident either personally or among their loved ones. One in five adults have been threatened with a gun, and nearly the same number have had a family member killed by a gun, including those who used a gun in a suicide.
People of color are disproportionately affected by gun violence. In 2022, Black people saw the highest rates of firearm-related homicides across all ages. That same year, Black children and adolescents accounted for half of all firearm deaths, despite being only 14% of that demographic. The violence not only poses a direct physical threat but can also undermine an entire community's sense of well-being and lead to increased stress and mental health problems.
Children ages 1 to 19 die from guns more than any other cause in the U.S., studies show. In comparison, countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK have significantly lower rates of gun violence among children in this age group.
A large number of unintentional firearm deaths among children and adolescents occur in their own homes, with many firearms being stored loaded and unlocked. Guns are often found in sleeping areas, such as nightstands, under a pillow or mattress, or on a bed.
In addition to the physical harm such violence can cause, it can also take a toll on mental health. Fears about gun violence are particularly common among children, and many worry about experiencing such violence at school.
The advisory urges public health leaders to address the high suicide rate, with more than half of gun deaths in 2022 being due to suicide. Unlike homicides, the highest rate of gun suicides for adults 45 years and older involved White people, while for younger people, those who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native had the highest rate of gun suicides.
In 2021, the suicide rate for men who are veterans was 62.4% higher than for men who are not veterans. It was 281.1% higher for women who are veterans compared with women who are not.
The advisory emphasizes the need for more investment in firearms research to understand how to reduce and prevent gun violence in the U.S., and it encourages communities and healthcare systems to help vulnerable populations.
The advisory also calls for stricter gun laws, including requirements for safe and secure firearm storage, a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks, and effective firearm removal policies. It also suggests treating firearms like any other regulated consumer product, such as cars or pesticides.
"There are no federal standards or regulations regarding the safety of firearms produced in the U.S.," the advisory says. "Treating firearms as a consumer product could result in changes that may enhance safety."
This is not the first advisory issued by Murthy. A 2021 advisory detailed the rise of mental health problems, while a separate advisory explained how Americans could combat a surge of health misinformation. Last year, Murthy issued another advisory on the effects of social media on youth mental health.
A public health approach can help combat gun violence, the advisory says, as it did for tobacco-related diseases and motor vehicle crashes.
"It is up to us to take on this generational challenge with the urgency and clarity the moment demands," the advisory says. "The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake."
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The Surgeon General's Office recommendation for mitigating firearm-related violence includes addressing the high suicide rate, with more than half of gun deaths in 2022 being due to suicide.
The advisory also advocates for stronger gun laws, such as requirements for safe and secure firearm storage, a ban on assault weapons, and universal background checks.
