Firearms are one of the most polarizing topics in American discourse, with debates threaded with themes around personal liberty and freedom, public health, violence, and more. In the midst of this debate are surgeons. Surgeons—and in particular trauma surgeons—have committed their personal and professional lives to reducing needless suffering from injury. And that includes injury from firearms.
So how do surgeons, as patient advocates, navigate through this debate. Is there a common narrative and if so, what does this look like? We encourage you to take a listen to "Arming with Knowledge: Building the Culture of Firearm Safety and Injury Prevention," a brand new podcast hosted by the American College of Surgeons Resident and Associate Society Advocacy and Issues Committee.
In our inaugural episode, we will explore the public health problem of firearm-related injury and mortality, the role of surgeons, and the common narrative around firearm injury and prevention.