June 21st In a historic 8-1 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “when the Court determines that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of others, that individual may be temporarily disarmed pursuant to the Second Amendment.”
This decision United States v. Rahimi Another landmark moment came just days after U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released the Surgeon General’s Advisory on gun violence in America, declaring it an “urgent public health issue” and saying, “[s] Immediate public awareness and action.”
He’s right: when you look at the data, the numbers are shocking.
As of 2020, gun injuries have become the leading cause of death among American children ages 1 to 19, surpassing motor vehicle accidents for the first time in history.
As of 2020, firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among 18-20 year olds in the United States. … [+]
In a recent national survey, an astonishing 54% of U.S. adults reported that they or a family member have experienced a firearm-related incident, and nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults report that a family member has experienced a firearm death, including suicide.
Our nation is seeing its highest number of firearm-related deaths in nearly 30 years, and the most recent CDC data shows that suicides are also at an all-time high, with firearms being the leading method of suicide.
These preventable deaths make our country feel unsafe.
Four in five U.S. adults (79%) report feeling stressed by the possibility of a mass shooting, and one in three (33%) say they would be too scared to go to certain places or events.
Half of 14-17 year olds in the U.S. are reported to be worried about a school shooting. The Washington PostSince the Columbine massacre in 1999, more than 370,000 students have experienced gun violence in their schools.
According to a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation national survey, one in five adults … [+]
We, the people, have always cherished the right to bear arms. In fact, it was essential to the founding of our country. As we reflect on Independence Day and celebrate all that makes our country great (and there is certainly much to celebrate), we should remember that we are a country that has addressed problems and shortcomings in the past with innovative solutions.
Confusion arose following the interpretation of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. BruenUntil now, courts and lawmakers have been grappling with how the law can address the growing challenge of gun injuries and deaths. Now, the Supreme Court has made it clear that temporarily stripping access to guns when an individual poses a threat to others is constitutional and in line with historical precedent. With this decision, the Supreme Court has given states and the federal government clear authority to resolve the current crisis. The evidence base is expanding with studies showing what laws can turn the tide. We know that states that implement background checks on all gun transactions experience fewer homicides. Temporary transfer laws, which temporarily strip access to those in crisis and who pose a threat, have reduced suicides by as much as 13% and have been used to prevent mass shootings. And by requiring responsible and safe gun storage, combined with child access prevention laws, can reduce youth gun deaths.
In a study of 29 high-income countries in 2015, more than 9 in 10 children ages 0-14 who died from firearm-related injuries lived in the United States. The U.S. firearm death rate is 11.4 times higher than those other 28 countries. The U.S. does not have a monopoly on mental illness (some believe it is to blame for the U.S. firearm crisis), nor is it a far more violent country by other measures such as robbery and theft. American children do not need to regularly undergo shooting drills. They do not need to live in fear of gun violence at parades, grocery stores, or movie theaters.
Comparative graph of firearm death rates among children and adolescents in selected OECD countries. … [+]
As citizens, we must vote for people who are willing to address this crisis calmly and responsibly. As legislators, we must do the hard work of finding compromises that respect the Constitution while keeping our communities and children safe. As gun owners, we must be aware of our wonderful Second Amendment rights and responsibilities, receive proper training, and store our guns safely at all times. As parents, we must make it a habit to have conversations about gun safety with our children and other parents.
Action is now necessary. The Supreme Court has made clear that we have the ability to protect our communities from those who pose a threat to themselves or others. The Surgeon General has made clear why we must act. We have the tools to address this public health crisis. Now we must get to the hard work of using them.
