A new advisory from the US Surgeon General declares gun violence in America is an urgent public health crisis.

The report citing rising deaths of young people and broad mental health impacts argues for a comprehensive approach

to stem gun violence similar to tobacco-related and motor vehicle-related deaths.

The National Rifle Association today called it quote an extension of the Biden administration's war on law-on-law-abiding gun owners.

Joining us now is Dr. Emmy Betts.

She's an emergency room physician and director of the firearm injury prevention initiative at the

University of Colorado. Dr. Betts welcome back. Thanks for joining us.

Thank you so much for having me. So you work in an ER in Colorado as we mentioned you run this firearm injury

prevention initiative from what you've seen in your work is this public

health declaration necessary right now? I really think it is because I think it lays out

sort of two key tenants. The first is that this is a health problem. We are trying

to prevent the injuries, the death, the psychological harm related to firearms.

So it's not about the device itself, it's about the negative consequences it can have.

And it's also about acknowledging that public health is a science. We have a framework on how we can prevent these injuries and deaths, the harm that nobody wants to have happened.

And so I think having a report of this magnitude really lays it out and points us in a way forward.

So what is labeling it a public health crisis change in the way of what you see every day in your ER or in terms of the funding for actual research that goes into

firearm injury prevention, what changes with this?

Well, when we talk about a public health approach, what it really is is a four step cycle that first

starts with looking at data to understand who's being injured or killed and why is it

from suicide is it from mass shootings is it from youth violence in the community.

And then it's about identifying the strategies

that will work to prevent those injuries and deaths

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