FEATURE
Like any other citizen, physicians
should call or email their local congres-
sional office to voice their opinions about
gun safety. This can be done at a national
level, but just as importantly, at a local
level in town hall meetings.
Physicians also can l donate to politi-
cal candidates who support policies in
line with their own beliefs or, Dr. Radich
added, to charitable organizations like
Americans for Responsible Solutions – a
non-profit founded by former U.S. Repre-
sentative Gabrielle Giffords (a gun owner
and victim of gun violence) that advocates
for safer gun laws.
“These organizations are [run by activ-
ists] who have boots on the ground and
are 100 percent devoted to this issue,” Dr.
Radich said. “This is their job. We’re busy
with our own jobs as hematologists and
can’t do what they can.”
Continued on page 116
FIGURE. Recommendations to Mitigate Firearm-Related
Injury and Death in the U.S.
The following measures aim to reduce the health and public health consequences of fire-
arms, according to the American College of Physicians:
• institution of universal background
checks of gun purchasers • research to support strategies for reducing
firearm-related injuries and deaths
• elimination of physician “gag laws” Source: Weinberger SE, Hoyt DB, Lawrence HC 3rd, et al.
Firearm-related injury and death in the United States: a
call to action from 8 health professional organizations
and the American Bar Association. Ann Intern Med.
2015;162:513-6.
• restrictions on the manufacture and sale of
military-style assault weapons and large-
capacity magazines for civilian use