Violence Prevention Leader Commends Surgeon General Advisory on Firearm Violence as a Public Health Crisis
June 25, 2024
Statement of Esta Soler,
President and Founder, Futures Without Violence
Contact: Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1997
“U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s landmark Advisory declaring firearm violence to be a public health crisis is a badly needed and very important document that outlines smart strategies to address the enormous harm gun violence does to women and children, families, communities, and our entire country. Gun violence takes an especially painful toll on youth and communities of color.
It is a shocking measure of the scope of this crisis that more than half of U.S. adults (54%) have experienced a firearm-related incident or have a family member who has, and that our country lost more than 48,000 people to these incidents in 2022. The Advisory, issued today, notes that 59% of mass shootings that took place from 2014–2019 were associated with domestic violence and that domestic violence-related mass shootings have, on average, more fatalities than shootings not related to domestic violence. Domestic and sexual violence are, indeed, grave problems that become even more deadly when guns are present. Tragically, each month an average of 70 women are shot and killed by a partner. A firearm in the home increases the likelihood a woman facing domestic violence will be killed by a male partner by a stunning 500 percent.
The numbers cannot fully convey the trauma associated with the gun violence in this country, and we especially commend the Surgeon General for recommending overwhelmingly popular solutions, many of which are part of the Futures Without Violence gun violence prevention agenda. These include community-based violence prevention and intervention, mental health, safe storage, a ban on assault weapons, and other support for those traumatized by violence. Gun violence is a public health crisis, but it is preventable. Surgeon General Murthy is right that we must do more to end the scourge of gun violence in the United States.”
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ABOUT FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE:
For more than 35 years, FUTURES has been providing groundbreaking programs, policies and campaigns that empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, FUTURES trains professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and abuse. FUTURES also works with advocates, policymakers and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships. More information is available at www.futureswithoutviolence.org.
