- HHS removed Surgeon General’s advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis
- Advisory called for assault weapon bans and evidence-based solutions
- Trump executive order prioritizes review of Second Amendment-related policies
- Firearms are leading cause of death for US children since 2020
- Advocacy groups condemn removal as prioritizing politics over public safety
The Department of Health and Human Services has sparked national debate after quietly removing a landmark gun violence advisory from its official website. The missing page previously hosted Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s June 2024 declaration categorizing firearm violence as an urgent public health emergency, complete with statistical analyses and proposed regulatory measures.
New analysis reveals firearm-related injuries now account for 18% of all child mortality nationwide, with suicide rates among 10-14-year-olds increasing 140% since 2012. Public health researchers emphasize that this trend mirrors patterns seen during previous tobacco and opioid crises, where coordinated federal action reduced preventable deaths.
The vanished advisory had garnered support from 10 major medical organizations, including the American College of Surgeons who noted ‘trauma centers now spend 47% of resources treating gunshot wounds’. A regional case study from Cook County, Illinois shows emergency response to firearm incidents costs taxpayers $2.3 million monthly – funds that could otherwise support mental health services.
White House officials cite compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order 13943 as justification, which mandates review of all firearm-related policies since 2021. Legal experts suggest this move could foreshadow challenges to state-level red flag laws and background check systems.
Contrary to claims about antidepressant risks, a Johns Hopkins meta-analysis of 650,000 patients shows no correlation between SSRIs and violent behavior. Mental health advocates warn that stigmatizing treatment access could exacerbate the crisis, particularly in rural areas where firearm suicide rates exceed national averages by 22%.
