Doctors, nurses to rally for gun violence prevention

Health professionals from across Pennsylvania will rally at the state Capitol to call for action on gun violence.Doctors, nurses and gun violence awareness advocates will stress that the issue is a public health crisis and is not political.The rally is part of a new statewide coalition with the medical community and CeaseFirePA called the PA Health Professionals to End Gun Violence.Health professionals will advocate for community members to safely store guns, including keeping firearms unloaded and locked in safes, as they say this could prevent accidental shootings.Advocates will also call for gun violence policy prevention.Dr. Shawn Safford, who is a pediatric surgeon with the American Trauma Society, said these policies can be increased funding for education and mental health resource programs.”Better education leads to safer environments,” he said. “Those sorts of things we can put out into our communities to make sure that people feel safe.”Safford said he works out of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and the issue is personal for him as he sees too many children being treated for gunshot wounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,800 firearm deaths in Pennsylvania in 2023.The leading cause of these deaths was suicide, with 1,077 cases. The second is homicide, with 693 cases.In 2o24, there have been 420 reported firearm deaths.The rally will begin at noon at the state Capitol rotunda.If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988.

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Health professionals from across Pennsylvania will rally at the state Capitol to call for action on gun violence.

Doctors, nurses and gun violence awareness advocates will stress that the issue is a public health crisis and is not political.

The rally is part of a new statewide coalition with the medical community and CeaseFirePA called the PA Health Professionals to End Gun Violence.

Health professionals will advocate for community members to safely store guns, including keeping firearms unloaded and locked in safes, as they say this could prevent accidental shootings.

Advocates will also call for gun violence policy prevention.

Dr. Shawn Safford, who is a pediatric surgeon with the American Trauma Society, said these policies can be increased funding for education and mental health resource programs.

“Better education leads to safer environments,” he said. “Those sorts of things we can put out into our communities to make sure that people feel safe.”

Safford said he works out of Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and the issue is personal for him as he sees too many children being treated for gunshot wounds.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,800 firearm deaths in Pennsylvania in 2023.

The leading cause of these deaths was suicide, with 1,077 cases. The second is homicide, with 693 cases.

In 2o24, there have been 420 reported firearm deaths.

The rally will begin at noon at the state Capitol rotunda.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988.

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