Firearm Safety and Public Health

Firearm-related injuries and deaths in the U.S. are a public health crisis. High-profile mass shootings, localized episodes of violence, suicides, and gun-related accidents all-too-frequently stimulate our personal and collective grief and outrage. Despite the senselessness of unending recurrences of such tragedies, Health and Human Services (HHS) remains committed to reducing the number of firearm-related injuries and deaths. As with other public health challenges, that means openly acknowledging the scope of the problem, updating the public on what we’re doing to reduce firearm-related injuries and deaths, and providing the most up-to-date available guidance to help the broader public navigate the crisis. Health and Well-Being Matter is the monthly blog of the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, read it here.