Gun Violence - Public Health Crisis
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Gun Violence - Public Health Crisis
Gun deaths are now the number one cause of death for people 19 and under. This is what is killing children. About 13 children die daily in the US from guns. Almost 50,000 people are killed by guns each year and the number is rising.
Regarding assault weapons, an AR-15 bullet typically travels at a velocity of around 3,000 feet per second, which is equivalent to 2,056 miles per hour. This is three times the speed of a modern handgun bullet. An AR-15 can fire about 60 rounds a minute without modifications. Great specifications in war, not at home.
On October 8, the American College of Emergency Physicians officially joined the ranks of several other medical organizations, including the American Medical Association as well as the American Public Health Association, in declaring gun violence a public health crisis in the U.S.
In the 1990s Arthur Kellermann, MD, MPH, published groundbreaking papers that quantified the link between guns in the home and deaths. He discovered that having a gun in the home nearly tripled the risk of in-home homicide. Intense lobbying from the National Rifle Association (NRA) sought to eliminate federal dollars from funding gun violence research. The idea was that if you don’t have data you won’t know how to fix the problem.
Primary prevention in medicine means changing behavior to prevent disease. With guns it means extensive background checks on ALL sales or transfers so guns don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Secondary prevention identifies diseases at the early stage, allowing doctors to take steps to minimize morbidity and mortality. Similarly, when we screen people with domestic violence offenses for deadly weapons and allow for law enforcement to remove guns from those homes, we know beyond a reasonable doubt that we will save lives.
Tertiary prevention happens after danger has struck. In medicine, once someone is shot, we activate trauma systems to save their lives. The public health parallel, violence intervention programs, have the potential to stop the cycle of violence. Examples of these programs include Temple University Hospital's Cradle to Grave and the Trauma Victim Support Advocates. Here is a link to the reference story.
ACTION
It is time to educate our Member of Congress and Senators on this dangerous situation.
Call or email them (links in the Resources section).
Here is a sample text or you can use RESISTBOT from your cell phone to send it as an email. Just send text SIGN PDZEGD to 50409.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know that on October 8, 2023, the American College of Emergency Physicians officially joined the ranks of several other medical organizations, including the American Medical Association as well as the American Public Health Association, in declaring gun violence a public health crisis in the U.S.
I also just found out that Congress made it illegal to collect gun violence statistics in the 1990s at the behest of the NRA. We need that data to know exactly what kind of legislation will help reduce the plague of gun deaths we have in the US.
I want you to enact legislation that restores the government’s right to collect gun violence data so we develop regulations that will help keep all of us safe.
I also want you to support legislation that makes a background check a legal requirement prior to any gun transfer, in a store, at a show, or privately.
While I have your attention pass Ethan’s Law so that guns are stored safely when children are around, after all 13 die every day from a gun. And pass an assault weapons ban. No one needs to shoot with 60 rounds a minute three times faster than a handgun. Thank you.”
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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