US surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis [Video]

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has declared gun violence a public health crisis, issuing an advisory outlining several steps for Congress and local communities to take.”When gun violence is the leading cause of death among kids and teens, that should alarm all of us,” said Murthy.The declaration comes in response to the rising number of people dying from firearm-related injuries, which reached nearly 50,000 in 2022. Murthy also highlighted the issue’s contribution to the nation’s mental health problem and the trauma inflicted on communities.”Half of our kids are worried about a school shooting taking place in their school. So we don’t have to live like that. This is the bottom line. This is a situation that can be addressed that can be remedied,” said Murthy.In his advisory, Murthy outlined several strategies to decrease gun deaths. These include violence intervention, risk reduction strategies like universal background checks and assault weapons …