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Understanding the Role of Law in Reducing Firearm Injury through Clinical Interventions
Gluck, Abbe R.
Gluck, Abbe R.
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Abstract
Firearm injury in the United States is a public health crisis. Approximately 38,000 people are killed, and 73,300 people are injured, by firearms each year in the United States.1 Between 2014 and 2018, firearm suicide rates increased by 10% in the past five years, while firearm homicide rates increased by 25%. Americans have a significantly higher risk of firearm injury compared to citizens of other high-income countries. Physicians are uniquely situated to act as upstream interveners to prevent firearm injury. They can identify patients at risk of harming themselves or others as well as patients at risk of being harmed by firearm violence. However, their ability to mitigate harm is limited. Laws and regulations that shape physicians’ roles in the context of firearm injury prevention interact in complex ways, and, in many cases physicians are unaware of, or have misconceptions about, how and whether these laws affect their clinical practice.
Using clinical scenarios to illustrate how firearm laws and regulations interact to directly impact physicians’ abilities to reduce firearm-related harms, this article suggests not only that physicians and other healthcare providers require more nuanced education on this topic, but also that policymakers should consult with front-line healthcare providers — just as they consult with other stakeholders — when designing firearm policies.