RSS Feeds
Firearm Injury Prevention
- American College of Physicians. This paper, written by Jack A. Ginsburg, MPE, was developed for the American College of Physicians Health and Public Policy Committee (HPPC) and the HPPC Task Force on Violence. Members of the HPPC were Whitney W. Addington, MD (Chair); Phillip D. Bertram, MD (Vice-Chair); John M. Eisenberg, MD; William M. Fogarty, MD; Nancy E. Gary, MD; David J. Gullen, MD; Janice Herbert-Carter, MD; Richard Honsinger Jr., MD; Stephan L. Kamholz, MD; Derrick L. Latos, MD; Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, MD; Wayne J. Riley, MD, MPH; Richard K. Tompkins, MD; and James Webster Jr., MD. Ex officio members were Gerald E. Thomson, MD (Immediate Past President); Christine K. Cassel, MD (President); William A. Reynolds, MD (President-Elect); and Jock Murray, MD (Chair, Board of Regents). The HPPC Task Force on Violence consisted of Nancy E. Gary, MD (Chair); Whitney W. Addington, MD; Phillip D. Bertram, MD; David J. Gullen, MD; Mary T. Herald, MD; and L. Julian Haywood, MD. This paper was approved by the Board of Regents on 21 November 1996. Note: This is an abridged version of a position paper approved by the American College of Physicians' Board of Regents. For copies of the full text, contact Jack A. Ginsburg, MPE, American College of Physicians, 700 Thirteenth Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005. Requests for Reprints: Jack A. Ginsburg, MPE, American College of Physicians, 700 Thirteenth Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005.
Abstract
This paper identifies gun violence and the prevention of firearm-related injury and death as high-priority public health issues. It presents background information on the growing epidemic of gun violence and outlines some of the steps that physicians should take, such as counseling patients about firearm safety and becoming involved in community efforts to prevent firearm injuries. Other positions call for strong legislation to ban the sale and possession of assault weapons, support for law enforcement measures to aid in the identification of weapons used in crimes, and restrictions on the sale and possession of handguns.
- Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians
