Statement attributable to:
Ryan D. Mire, MD, MACP
President, ACP
WASHINGTON March 14, 2023 – The ƹϵεapp (ACP) is glad to see the series of actions announced by President Biden today to help fight the epidemic of firearms deaths and injuries in our country. Physicians all too regularly come face-to-face with the tragedy that firearms violence brings. That is why ACP has called for to tackle the public health crisis of firearms-related deaths and injuries for nearly 30 years. We strongly support policies to strengthen background checks for individuals seeking to purchase firearms and to educate the public about the difference that can be made with safe storage practices. We also strongly support increasing public awareness about the importance of extreme risk protection orders, also known as “red flag laws.” Temporarily removing a firearm from an individual at imminent risk of hurting themselves or others is an important way that families or law enforcement can intervene when there are warning signs, preventing a tragedy before it occurs.
The actions described in the executive order announced today will make important progress in preventing avoidable deaths and injuries from firearms. The passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year was a step forward in beginning to reduce firearms-related deaths and injuries. That law and the policies in today’s order, are positive progress, but still more needs to be done to end the scourge of firearms violence.
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About the ƹϵεapp
The ƹϵεapp is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 160,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on , , and .
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org