ENA Statement on Surgeon General Declaring Gun Violence Public Health Crisis
June 25, 2024 • Emergency Nurses Association Firearms Injury Prevention Public Health
On Tuesday, ENA released the following statement about the surgeon general's advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis.
“Today, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared what emergency nurses know all-too-well: Gun violence is a public health crisis. Murthy’s call to action aligns with ENA’s positions related to, among other things, a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks for firearm purchases and the need for greater firearm safety education.
Emergency nurses see firsthand the damage caused by firearms – whether in a mass shooting, urban violence, self-harm or intimate partner violence – and understand deeply the need to find solutions that reduce the frequency and severity of firearm injuries and deaths.
Those solutions cannot be reached soon enough. Lives are at stake.” – ENA President Chris Dellinger
Read the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory "Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis": https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/firearm-violence-advisory.pdf
Read more about ENA’s 2023 Firearm Safety and Injury Prevention Position Statement: https://www.ena.org/press-room/articles/detail/2023/12/11/ena-calls-for-assault-weapons-ban-firearms-purchase-age-increase
The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With 50,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.
ENA Media Contact
Dan Campana
Director of Communications
dan.campana@ena.org
