PREVIEW

US Surgeon General Declares Gun Violence in America a ‘Public Health Crisis’. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy made the declaration in a new advisory released on June 25, CNN reports. It is the first time that a surgeon general has focused on gun violence's "profound consequences" in a national publication. "Over the last decade or two, this problem has been worsening and we have now reached the point where gun violence is the leading cause of death among kids and teens – the leading cause of death.", "That is something that we should never take as the new normal. There’s nothing normal about that.", Dr. Vivek Murthy, to CNN's John Berman. According to Murthy, the advisory is intended to take the polarizing issue of firearms "out of the realm of politics and put it into the realm of public health, which is where it belongs.". The advisory highlights measures that Murthy believes can have an impact on gun violence,... ...just as steps to address vehicle crashes and tobacco-related illnesses have in the past. "Historically, we have seen how the release of Surgeon General reports on public health issues such as the dangers of smoking ignited a wave of policy, legal, and public health initiatives that saved countless American lives and in this case led to deprogramming our nation from the tobacco industry’s lies. ", "We hope this report will have the same resounding impact on the gun violence epidemic.", Dr. Joseph V. Sakran, Brady board chair and chief medical officer, via CNN. In 2022, over 48,000 people in America died from gun-related injuries, according to CDC data. In the new advisory, Dr. Murthy said, "It is up to us to take on this generational challenge with the urgency and clarity the moment demands". "The safety and well-being of our children and future generations are at stake.", Dr. Vivek Murthy, via advisory. THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT