Dads, moms and their kids are more likely to suffer injury and death when a firearm is in the home. It is curiously frustrating that, in a state where our representatives claim to be tireless advocates for family values, no one is advocating for keeping families safer by removing firearms from the family home.
Of course, ignorant parents will always make ignorant decisions that place their children and spouses at increased risk of injury or death. None of us is perfect and we all make mistakes. Health care providers want to educate patients about the risks of firearms in the home and keep our patients safe from firearm injury and death, therefore, the Journal of the American Medical Association has made a call to action for our government officials. This includes safe storage, smart guns and child protection among other lawful, public health strategies. Less ignorance, less injury, less death. It is the mission of the medical community.
Firearm injury and death are a public health crisis in this country and I urge our government leaders to follow the recommendations of the medical community and keep our citizens safe.
Courtney Henley, M.D., Salt Lake City
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