Child Health Policy Learning Collaborative: Advocacy Call to Close Loopholes and Improve State Gun Laws

The guest speaker was Ari Freilich, a well-known gun safety advocate from California. Several states have seen dramatic reductions in gun violence in the pediatric population over a short period of time. New York, Massachusetts, and California developed initiatives focusing on stricter gun laws including closing the loopholes in background checks and identifying high risk youths then providing intervention programs focusing on risk reduction in this population.

Background checks vary from state to state. In many states only convicted felons may be excluded from possessing a gun. Using these standards for background checks allows those who have violent offenses, but not convicted of a felony, to purchase guns; those accused of domestic violence without felony convictions can pass the background check; and the purchase of ammunition is not restricted or subject to background checks.

Everyone hears about mass shootings, but there are far too many children wounded or killed by gun violence daily which often goes unnoticed. These numbers are sky-rocketing. Gun violence can affect anyone, but there are specific segments of the population at the highest risk. They include the African American population, those affected by inequality, and males.  Gun violence is a large marker of inequality including income, education, housing, job opportunities, feeling of safety and belonging to a community, etc. Many gun homicides go unsolved often leading to a violent gun response by the families and/or friends of the victim. This creates a vicious violent circle.  

There is a way to decrease the staggering number of gun violence incidents and homicides, Responsible gun ownership can reduce the number of gun homicides within one generation, as proven in New York and Massachusetts. Programs in these states have great models for us to follow. 

It begins with us by working with law enforcement to identify those youths at high risk then working together to decrease the negative risk factors using preventative resources; teach our patients and families to talk and work out their problems rather than reaching for a gun; applying for evidence based practice grants to initiate risk reduction programs, and getting the word out by reporting and publishing on successful programs and strategies. We also need to reach out to our legislators to improve gun laws in our states, focusing on closing the loopholes in background check laws, limiting access to those who meet the requirements for safe access to guns and ammunition, and strictly enforcing gun laws.

Submitted for e-Chapter members by

Linda Frye, PhD, RN, CPNP