Medical Professionals Call on Congress to Recognize Gun Violence as Public Health Emergency, Pass Laws to Prevent It
To Members of Congress,
Gun violence is a public health emergency that has devastated too many families in America – and we urge our members of Congress to end years of inaction and implement common sense gun safety measures that can help save lives.
As medical professionals, we commit our lives to helping others, promoting wellbeing and protecting health. We took an oath to prevent harm – and that includes speaking up when our patients face threats to their health and their lives. Each year, guns kill nearly 40,000 Americans and wound approximately 85,000 more. Horrifyingly, guns were the nation's leading cause of death among children in 2020.
In light of the real and sustained threat of gun injuries and deaths to our patients, including children, as well as to our fellow health care professionals like those in Tulsa, we are united in calling on lawmakers to enact gun safety protections without delay. Continued inaction is unacceptable. We cannot do nothing in the face of so much death and suffering.
America’s leaders must reevaluate federal laws that expose more people to potential gun injuries and death, and pass sensible gun laws that reduce easy access to highly dangerous weapons. These should be founded on research showing their effectiveness, and may include licensing processes, bans on large-capacity magazine sales, prohibitions on firearms for high-risk groups, stronger background checks, and more.
Congress should take the additional step of supporting more research into gun violence and the efficacy of prevention measures.
America cannot afford to continue this deadly status quo. The violent deaths of four Americans at a Tulsa medical facility, and the killings of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde are the most recent of seemingly countless mass shootings in our country.
Medical professionals will continue to speak up for the care of our patients and the health, safety and wellbeing of our communities. The American Medical Association calls gun violence a “public health crisis” and we agree. Our response – and we must respond – should be evidence-based, research-driven and robust.
As medical professionals, we tell our patients that the best treatment is prevention. We urge Congress to take meaningful steps to prevent gun violence in the United States and help physicians and health professionals protect and save lives.
Signed:
Rob Davidson, MD, MPH + Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Health Care; Emergency Medicine (Spring Lake, MI) |
Kristen Nordenholz, MD, MSc + CO State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care; Emergency Medicine (Denver, CO) |
Jerri Abrams, MD; Pediatrics (Shavano Park, TX) |
Caitlin Ahern, MD; Family Medicine (Akron, CO) |
Neelofur Ahmad, MD; Radiation Oncology (Houston, TX) |
Mohammed Ahmed, MD; Psychiatry (Plano, TX) |
Mohammad Amir, MD; Internal Medicine (Richardson, TX) |
Ted Angus, MD; Emergency Medicine (Surprise, AZ) |
Margaret Appleton, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (College Station, TX) |
Marco Araneda, MD; Medical Oncology (Harlingen, TX) |
Branch Archer, MD; Radiology (Austin, TX) |
Nancy Arko, MD; Psychiatry (Denver, CO) |
Kim Arnold, LPN, BHT; Mental Health (Mesa, AZ) |
Ashfaq Assadi, MD; Anesthesiology (The Colony, TX) |
Eleanor Avery, MD; Neurology (San Antonio, TX) |
Syed Azhar, MD; Family Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Katie Bakes, MD; Emergency Medicine (Morrison, CO) |
Maurice Ballas, MD; Pathology (Denton, TX) |
Wendy Bamberg, MD; Public Health, Infectious Diseases (Encino, CA) |
Linda Barbour, MD; Endocrinology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Golden, CO) |
Nathaniel Barnes, MD; Urology (Friendswood, TX) |
Amelia Barrett, MD; Neurology (Aurora, CO) |
Felicitas Benavides, RN; Family Medicine (Laredo, TX) |
Martha Jo Billy, NP; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Gilbert, AZ) |
Pamela Blake, MD; Neurology (Houston, TX) |
Cynthia Blanco, MD; Pediatrics (San Antonio, TX) |
Ginger Bloomer, MD; Family Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Julie Bortolotti, MD; Family Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Neil Breslau, MD; Endocrinology (Richardson, TX) |
Mary Brick, RN; Retired Obstetrics (San Antonio, TX) |
Brenda Brokamp, RN; Case Management (Grand Junction, CO) |
Michael Brooks, MD; General Surgery (Fort Worth, TX) |
Kenton Brown, MD; Psychiatry (Austin, TX) |
Martha Brown, RN, BSN; Cardiac Step Down, Oncology (Houston, TX) |
Sandra Brown, RN; Trauma, Intensive Care Unit (Fort Worth, TX) |
Vaughn Browne, MD, PhD; Emergency Medicine (Aurora, CO) |
Linda Browning, RN; Retired Medical Intensive Care Unit, Case Management, Pulmonary Disease Management (Scottsdale, AZ) |
Jeannie Bryant, RN; Neonatal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Elvira Canales Burns, MD; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Jessica Byron, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Tucson, AZ) |
Esther Cabrera, RN; Retired Ambulatory Unit (Gilbert, AZ) |
Jose Cabrero, MD; Emergency Medicine (Dallas, TX) |
Patience Cain, APRN, FNP; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Alice Calhoun, MD; Pediatrics (Seal Beach, CA) |
Clare Card, RN; Retired Burn Unit (Dallas, TX) |
Judith Cashin Lerma, RNC, MSN, CCM; Psychiatry (San Antonio, TX) |
Lynn Cassidy, CNA; Geriatric Medicine (Denver, CO) |
Rosalee Castro, RN; Retired Emergency Medicine (Tucson, AZ) |
Marc Chalaby, MD; Pulmonary Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Angela Chaloupka, LPC; Mental Health Therapy (Mesa, AZ) |
Saleem Chughtai, MD; Radiology (Brownsville, TX) |
Norman Chutkan, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Phoenix, AZ) |
Mary Clary, RN; Research (Fort Collins, CO) |
Jaime Clavijo, MD; Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine (Bellaire, TX) |
Eileen Clayton, RN; Retired Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Medicine (Wheat Ridge, CO) |
Patricia Clyne, RN; Retired Medicine (Adkins, TX) |
Leslie Cohan, MD; Gynecology (Houston, TX) |
Brian Cooper, DO; Internal Medicine (Driftwood, TX) |
Leslie Cortes, MD; Internal Medicine, Geriatrics (Austin, TX) |
Lauri Costello, MD; Family Medicine (Durango, CO) |
Lauren Courtway, RN; Pediatrics (Denver, CO) |
Jennifer Cowart, MD; Internal Medicine (Jacksonville, FL) |
Holly Cunningham, RN; Retired Operating Room (Phoenix, AZ) |
Rene Darveaux, MD; Family Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Barbara Dauerty, PA-C; Family Medicine (Universal City, TX) |
Maureen Davis, NP; Psychiatry (Denver, CO) |
Amy Denero, RN; Newborn, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Broomfield, CO) |
Clifford DePrang, MD; Orthopaedics (Abilene, TX) |
Gina DeSanto, MD; Internal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Katharine Dessenberger, RN CPNP; Pediatrics (Surprise, AZ) |
Diana Lynn Dickens, MD; Allergy & Immunology (Bellaire, TX) |
Phillip Disraeli, MD; Family Medicine (Dallas, TX) |
Steven Dobberfuhl, MD; Internal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Sue Doty, MD; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Pamela Drapeau, MD; Psychiatry (Scottsdale, AZ) |
Steve Dulla, MD; Psychiatry (Carpinteria, CA) |
Joel Dunlap, MD; Diagnostic & Interventional Pediatric & Adult Radiology (San Antonio, TX) |
Mickie Dye, RN, SANE; Sexual Assault (Waco, TX) |
Maynard Dyson, MD; Pediatric Pulmonary (Fort Worth, TX) |
Eric Eichhorn, MD; Cardiology (Dallas, TX) |
Michael Eisemann, MD; Plastic Surgery (Houston, TX) |
Edythe Ewing, RN, BSN; Retired Critical Care (El Paso, TX) |
Steven Fabian, MD; Nephrology (Denver, CO) |
Melinda Fierros, MD; Psychiatry (San Antonio, TX) |
Kimberly Fitzgerald, RN; Nephrology (Chandler, AZ) |
Barbara Forseth, MD; Internal Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Lesley Fuller, LPN; Mental Health (Denver, CO) |
Antonio Gamboa, MD; Internal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Constance Giarratana, MD; Pediatrics (Denver, CO) |
Sonia Godbole, MD; Psychiatry (Phoenix, AZ) |
Teresa Godinez, MD; Internal Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
David Goldblatt, MD; Radiology (Austin, TX) |
Jason Green, DO; Emergency Medicine (Fort Collins, CO) |
Theresa Grover, MD; Pediatrics (Denver, CO) |
Ernesto Guerra, MD; Gastroenterology (San Antonio, TX) |
Dawn Gunter, MD; Psychiatry (Tucson, AZ) |
Graham Hall, MD; Pediatrics (San Antonio, TX) |
Neil Hall, RN, VAN; Vascular Access Nursing (Tucson, AZ) |
Cindy Hamilton, DO; Family Medicine (El Paso, TX) |
Gay Hasle, RN; Quality (Woodland Park, CO) |
Christopher Hearne, MD, FACP; Internal Medicine (Hutto, TX) |
Peter Hession, MD; Anesthesiology (Littleton, CO) |
Mary Hilsman, RN; Psychiatry (Leander, TX) |
Mary Hoffman, NP; Internal Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Gretchen Hogg, RN; Education (Fountain Hills, AZ) |
Lori Honeycutt, MD; Dermatology (Cedar Park, TX) |
Kayla Hooper, RN; Emergency Medicine (Littleton, CO) |
Herve Hosek, MD; Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine (Corpus Christi, TX) |
Stephen D. Houston, MD; Dermatologic Surgery (Austin, TX) |
John Humphrey, MD; Anesthesiology (Dallas, TX) |
Manik Husain, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Friendswood, TX) |
Francisca Ada Ifesinachukwu, MD; Psychiatry (Austin, TX) |
Debra Iverson, FNP-C, BC-ADM, CDCES, CNS; Family Medicine, Diabetes (Westminster, CO) |
Juliette James, RN; Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Denver, CO) |
Phyllis James, RN; Critical Care, Emergency Medicine (Chandler, AZ) |
Rohan Jeyarajah, MD; Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery (Coppell, TX) |
Basim Jishi, MD; Cardiology (Dallas, TX) |
Cheryl Jones, LPN; Retired Nursing (Goodyear, AZ) |
Kenneth Jones, MD, PhD; Anesthesiology (Austin, TX) |
Paul Jones, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Grand Junction, CO) |
Arnold Kagan, MD; Pediatrics (Pearland, TX) |
Robinah Kagoro, LPN; Pedatrics (Fortworth, TX) |
Betsy Kastak, RN, DNP, PNP; Pediatrics (Durango, CO) |
Cathie Kearns, RN; Rehab, Traumatic Brain Injury (Denver, CO) |
Jeffrey Kerr-Layton, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Boulder, CO) |
Julia Kibble, NP; Acute Care Surgery, Trauma (Houston, TX) |
Helen Kilzer, MD; Internal Medicine (Fort Collins, CO) |
Kenneth Kippels, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Richardson, TX) |
Lisa Kiser, CNM, WHNP; Women's Health (Tucson, CO) |
Sarah Knaisch, RNC-OB, BSN; Labor & Delivery (Longmont, CO) |
Robert Krauss, DO; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Phoenix, AZ) |
Laurel Kubby, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Phoenix, AZ) |
Elizabeth Lane, MD; Internal Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Winifred Langham, RN; Medical-Surgical Nursing (Texas City, TX) |
Deidre Larrier, MD; Otolaryngology (Houston, TX) |
Jeffrey Latimer, MD; Internal Medicine (Martindale, TX) |
Mary Beth Laurano, LPN; Geriatrics (Flagstaff, AZ) |
Sarah Lawrence, MD; Internal Medicine (Rochester, MN) |
Mary LeFebvre, RN; Retired Chief Operations Officer (New Braunfels, TX) |
Marian Letellier, PMHNP; Psychiatry (Phoenix, AZ) |
Monroe Levine, MD; Orthopedic Surgery (Thornton, CO) |
Melba Lewis, MD; Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Austin, TX) |
Gayle Long, MD; Emergency Medicine (Denver, CO) |
Anthony Lopez, RN; Retired Medicine (Grand Junction, CO) |
Lila Luchsinger, RN; Medical-Surgical Nursing (Lake Havasu City, AZ) |
Rowena Maclin, DO; Family Medicine (Arlington, TX) |
Nancy Maebius, PhD, RN; Nurse Educator (San Antonio, TX) |
Linda Magill, MD; Anesthesiology (Houston, TX) |
Susan Mahler, MD; Dermatology (Boerne, TX) |
Vince Markovchick, MD; Emergency Medicine (Golden, CO) |
Andrew Martin, MD; Ophthalmology (Denver, CO) |
Natalie Mash, RN; Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Greeley, CO) |
Mark Mason, MD, DDS; Plastic Surgery (Southlake, TX) |
Jeselle Mathews, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Mission, TX) |
Nadine McElroy, BSN, RN; School Nursing (Pflugerville, TX) |
Chris McKinney, LVN; Emergency Medicine (Luling, TX) |
Deborah McNabb, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (San Antonio, TX) |
Ivan Mefford, MD, PhD; Family Medicine (Richmond, TX) |
Neal Meritz, MD; Family Medicine (Fair Oaks Ranch, TX) |
Belinda Molina, RN; Intensive Care Unit (Sedona, AZ) |
Diana Monroy, RN; Medical-Surgical Nursing (Yuma, AZ) |
Henry Mora, MD; Family Medicine (Glendale, AZ) |
Jason Morgan, RN; Surgery (Colorado Springs, CO) |
Karen Morris, LVN; Nursing (San Antonio, TX) |
Martha Morse, MD; Pediatric Pulmonary (San Antonio, TX) |
Sosan Moussa, MD; Pediatrics (Tucson, AZ) |
Audrey Nath, MD, PhD; Neurology (Houston, TX) |
Janet Nazario, CPNP; Pediatrics (Phoenix, AZ) |
Linda Nazario, RN; Nurse Manager (Peoria, AZ) |
Uzoma Nduka, PhD; Epidemiology (Aurora, CO) |
Phil Neff, MD; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (Austin, TX) |
Margaret Neiheisel, MD; Pediatrics (San Antonio, TX) |
Jo-Ann Nesiama, MD, MS; Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Dallas, TX) |
Farhad Niroomand, MD; Dermatology (Dallas, TX) |
Alene Nitzky, RN; Oncology (Fort Collins, CO) |
Michelle L Norris, RN, CCRN-K; Intensive Care Unit, Pre/Post Sedation (Denver, CO) |
Katherine Ochoa, MD; Internal Medicine (Denver, CO) |
Ogechi Odita, DC; Chiropractic Medicine (Dallas, TX) |
Dennis Oliver, MD; Internal Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Oladele Olusanya, MD; Family Medicine (Dallas, TX) |
Cynthia Osborne, MD; Oncology (Dallas, TX) |
Lisa Otey, MD; Gynecology (Houston, TX) |
Denise Panagakis, RN; Mental Health (Apache Junction, AZ) |
Manish Parikh, MD; Internal Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Eric Parker, RN; Flight Medicine (Durango, CO) |
Ellen Pasch, MD; Retired Emergency Medicine (Tucson, AZ) |
Sara Pastoor, MD; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Renee Pazdan, MD; Neurology (Colorado Springs, CO) |
Anna Pedersen, RN; Home Health Care (Cortez, CO) |
George Peterkin, MD; Trauma Surgery (Houston, TX) |
Kurt Peters, MD; Psychiatry (Colorado Springs, CO) |
Greg Phillips, MD; Internal Medicine (Fort Worth, TX) |
Ellen Phungrasamee, RN; Operating Room (Phoenix, AZ) |
Michael Pillow, MD; Anesthesiology (Wimberley, TX) |
Barbara Pinson, MD, MS; Preventative & Occupational Medicine (Quitman, TX) |
Siddharth Prakash, MD, PhD; Cardiology (Houston, TX) |
Pat Pryor, MD; Family Medicine (Waco, TX) |
Kristin Pullen, LCSW; School Social Work, Mental Health (Lakewood, CO) |
Deborah Pyne, DO; Family Medicine (Plano, TX) |
Kenneth Quenneville, MD; Emergency Medicine (Memphis, MO) |
Andrew Quiroz, MD; Anesthesiology (Tyler, TX) |
Arthur Ramirez, MD; Psychiatry (El Paso, TX) |
Cut Ratliff, DC; Retired Chiropractic Medicine (Grapevine, TX) |
Paula Requeijo, MD; Internal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Chris Rheams, MD; Internal Medicine (Fort Worth, TX) |
Joyce Rineer, APRN; Adult Geriatric Medicine (Myrtle Beach, SC) |
Brian Riveland, MD; Internal Medicine (Phoenix, AZ) |
Franklin M Rivers Jr, MD, FACEP; Emergency Medicine (Georgetown, TX) |
Donna Roberts, RN, AGNP-C; Geriatrics (Wray, CO) |
Sam Roberts, MD; Retired Emergency Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Anita Robeson, RN; Retired Nursing (Sun City West, AZ) |
Melanie Romo, NP; Psychiatry (Tucson, AZ) |
Missi Rosenfeld, MD; Anesthesiology (Paradise Valley, AZ) |
Philip Rothenberg, MD; Plastic Surgery (Houston, TX) |
Patti Rowell, RN; Education (Lake Havasu City, AZ) |
Randi Rubenzik, MD; Dermatology (Paradise Valley, AZ) |
Gloria Rutt, PsyD; Psychology (Dewey, AZ) |
Michelle Salazar, RN; Retired Obstetrics & Gynecology (Texas City, TX) |
Laura Salvetti, RN; Nursing (Fort Worth, TX) |
Julie Sanchez, MD, FACS; Pediatric Surgery (Austin, TX) |
Mario Sanchez, DO; Family Medicine (La Feria, TX) |
Kimberly Scadden, LPN; Hospice (Centennial, CO) |
Stefanie Schroeder, MD; Emergency Medicine (Phoenix, AZ) |
Ruth Schutt-Aine, RN; Nephrology (Houston, TX) |
Sarah Schwenk, RN, APRN; Psychiatry (Aurora, CO) |
Harold Scott, MD; Psychiatry (Georgetown, TX) |
Cheryl Scrivner, RN; Interventional Radiology (Denver, CO) |
Abbas Sekhavat, MD; Orthopedics (Dallas, TX) |
Kelly Sennholz, MD; Emergency Medicine (Edgewater, CO) |
Dave Shahani, MD; Pediatric Neurology (Hurst, TX) |
Eve Shapiro, MD; Pediatrics (Tucson, AZ) |
Balesh Sharma, MD; Oncology (Brownsville, TX) |
Bernard Shich, MD; Anesthesia (Houston, TX) |
Stanley Siefer, MD; Emergency Medicine (Denver, CO) |
Morey Silverman, MD; Pediatric Emergency Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Martin Solomon, MD; Neurology (Frisco, TX) |
Estela Sosa, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Harlingen, TX) |
Syreeta Spears, APN, PMHNP-BC; Psychiatry (Northglenn, CO) |
Marnee Spierer, MD; Radiation Oncology (Phoenix, AZ) |
Wesley Stafford, MD; Pediatrics, Allergy & Immunology (Kerrville, TX) |
Sharilyn Stanley, MD; Allergy & Immunology, Internal Medicine (Delavan, WI) |
Diana Stark, RN; Public Health (San Antonio, TX) |
Shirley Steen, RN; Retired Medical Management (Mesa, AZ) |
Leonora Stephens, MD; Psychiatry (Dallas, TX) |
Barbara Stone, NP; Psychiatry (Lakeside, AZ) |
Beth Strimpel, RN; Public Health (Aurora, CO) |
Andrew Stutheit, RN, BSN; Intensive Care Unit (Littleton, CO) |
Leslie Stutheit, CNA; Dialysis (Littleton, CO) |
Tricia Stytle, DO; Family Medicine (Litchfield Park, AZ) |
Grace Sun, FNP; Family Medicine (Lubbock, TX) |
Marjorie Surine, LPN; Retired Nursing (Gold Canyon, AZ) |
Karen Swenson, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Austin, TX) |
Adrian Tarin, RN; Critical Care (Greeley, CO) |
Denise Tarver, DO; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Floyd Taub, MD; Pathology (Golden, CO) |
Ted Tenczynski, MD; Oncology (College Station, TX) |
Barbara Terry, RN; Retired Emergency Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Stanley Thornton, MD; Anesthesia (Lubbock, TX) |
Beatrice Ting, MD, FAAP; Pediatrics (El Paso, TX) |
Eduardo Uribe, MD; Family Medicine (San Antonio, TX) |
Bettina Vaello, MD; Pediatrics (Austin, TX) |
Clare Vail, RN; Hospice (Satellite Beach, FL) |
Patrick Valls, MD; Radiology (Laredo, TX) |
Dev Varshney, MD; General Surgery (Carrizo Springs, TX) |
Fehmida Vejlani, MD; Internal Medicine (Tomball, TX) |
Ruben D Veloz, MD; Emergency Medicine (Houston, TX) |
Glese Verlander, MD, JD; Psychiatry (Dillon, CO) |
Oralia Villarreal, RN; Retired Medicine (Corpus Christi, TX) |
Pat Vinyard, MD; Family Medicine (Floresville, TX) |
Leticia Volpe, MD; Internal Medicine (Weslaco, TX) |
Rosie H Walia, MD; Family Medicine (Plano, TX) |
Sharon Wallace, MD; Family Medicine (Georgetown, TX) |
Robert Walton, RN; Nursing (Fort Collins, CO) |
Jonathan Ward, MD; Cardiology (Boulder, CO) |
Anisha Waxali, MD; Internal Medicine (Sugarland, TX) |
Diana Weihs, MD; Obstetrics & Gynecology (Austin, TX) |
Ted Wen, MD; Pediatric Radiology (Dallas, TX) |
Larry Wise, RN; Neuro Oncology (Austin, TX) |
Barry Wiss, DO; Gastroenterology (Paradise Valley, AZ) |
William Woodfin, MD; Neurology (McKinney, TX) |
Melinda Wright, RN; Nursing (Driftwood, TX) |
Heather Yun, MD; Infectious Diseases (San Antonio, TX) |
James Zachary, MD; Internal Medicine (Austin, TX) |
Julie Zuniga, NP; Family Medicine (El Paso, TX) |
