Gun Violence Prevention
Federal priorities to keep children safe
Article Body
The AAP has been involved for decades in advocacy efforts to
address the detrimental effects of gun violence in children’s lives as a public
health issue. The AAP continues to engage in a sustained advocacy effort
focused on engaging Congress, the White House, partner organizations,
pediatricians, and the public in an effort to enact and improve federal
policies aimed at reducing and preventing gun violence.
AAP’s top priorities in federal gun violence prevention
advocacy are:
- Stronger gun laws. Enactment of common-sense firearm legislation,
including stronger background checks, banning assault weapons, addressing
firearm trafficking, and encouraging safe firearm storage.
- Violence prevention programs. Support for programs
addressing the needs of at-risk children and children exposed to violence,
including those at CDC and DOJ.
- Research. Funding for gun violence prevention research and
public health surveillance, including $10 million to support gun violence
prevention research at CDC, and expanding the National Violent Death
Reporting System to all 50 states.
- Physician counseling. Protecting the crucial role of physicians in
providing anticipatory guidance to patients about the health hazards of
firearms.
- Mental Health Access. Ensuring children and their families have access to
appropriate mental health services, particularly to address the effects of
exposure to violence.
Learn more:
- AAP policy statement on firearm
safety
- AAP online resource page: "How
Pediatricians Can Advocate for Children’s Safety in Their Communities”
- Information for parents on how to talk to
children about disastrous events