Another American Public Health Crisis

July 01, 2024

The U.S. Surgeon General has released an advisory declaring firearm violence a public health crisis.

The number of people who have died from firearm-related injuries has been rising over the last decade, and firearm violence is now the leading cause of death for children and adolescents, the advisory said.

“Firearm violence is an urgent public health crisis that has led to loss of life, unimaginable pain, and profound grief for far too many Americans,” said Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. surgeon general. “We don’t have to continue down this path, and we don’t have to subject our children to the ongoing horror of firearm violence in America.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Concerning trends:  The majority of U.S.  adults or their family members (54%) have experienced a firearm-related incident.
  • Firearm-related injuries surpassed car accidents for the leading cause of death for children and adolescents during 2020.
• By the numbers:  During 2022, more than 48,000 people died from firearm-related injuries (suicides, homicides, unintentional deaths).
  •  This is 8,000 more than 2019 and 16,000 more than 2010.
• What’s driving the trend:  Over the last decade, a rise in firearm-related homicides and firearm-related suicides has escalated the public health crisis.
  • The U.S. has seen lower rates for these types of firearm-related deaths during 2022 and 2023, the report notes.
• Action steps:  The advisory emphasizes the need to invest in research; community risk reduction and education prevention strategies; firearm risk reduction strategies (policies and legislation); and mental health action and support.
• Bottom line:  “The increasing number of children and adolescents dying from firearm‑related injuries and the reverberating mental health impacts on society make firearm violence an urgent public health crisis in America,” the advisory notes. 

The advisory on firearm violence is available online.