Below is a press release from the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Today, the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Mississippi College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma released the following statement regarding firearm injury prevention:
“As physicians and surgeons who care for victims of firearm injury, including accidental, self-inflicted, and intentional assault, we are all too familiar with the havoc created when firearms are not used in a responsible manner. Given the rise in mass shooting events across the country over the last several years, mitigating firearm injury and mortality is at the forefront of our priorities. Mississippi now has the highest rate of firearm mortality in the country; our friends, neighbors, and fellow Mississippians are suffering.
We encourage all physicians across the state to discuss firearm safety with their patients, including safe handling, storage, and the responsibility that comes with firearm ownership. We must promote hunter safety and gun safety, and use mental health resources to assist those at risk of harming themselves or others. ‘Stop the Bleed’ classes can also help teach bleeding control at the scene of an injury; a resource open to all people, not only first responders.
It is on all of us – including medical professionals, policymakers, and firearm owners – to keep our communities safe and healthy.”
In Mississippi, firearm injuries have increased from approximately 1,350 per year to over 1,900 per year between 2017 and 2021. This also includes a rise in firearm injuries in children younger than 15 years old over the same period. According to the Mississippi Trauma Registry, our state also averages over 420 accidental shootings, 90 self-inflicted shootings, and 973 firearm assaults per year.
The groups endorse the principles from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Firearm Strategy Team (ACS-COT FAST) and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):
Robust and accurate background checks in accordance with federal law for all purchases and all transfers of firearms; support law enforcement activities that trace the origins of firearms used in the commission of crimes; use this data to enforce regulations aimed at preventing illegal sales to minors.
Formal gun safety training and hunter safety training and safe gun handling education; pediatricians and other child health care professionals are urged to counsel parents about the dangers of allowing children and adolescents to have access to guns inside and outside the home.
Direct adult supervision in the use of firearms for children; teach safe handling, care, and use.
Owners provide safe and controlled storage of their firearms; trigger locks, lock boxes, gun safes, and safe storage legislation are encouraged; measures aimed at regulating access of guns should include legislative actions, such as mandatory waiting periods, closure of the gun show loophole, mental health restrictions for gun purchases, and background checks.
For those deemed an imminent threat to self or others, programs to remove firearms from such persons should be standard as is done in Extreme Risk Protection Order policies, Red Flag laws, and federal law; require specific due process measures for removal and return of firearms.
Encourage recognition of mental health warning signs and social isolation; when such warning signs are identified, refer persons to appropriate mental health professionals. Healthcare professionals (pediatricians, primary care physicians, etc.) should counsel parents of all adolescents to remove guns from the home or restrict access to them. Pediatricians should incorporate questions about the presence and availability of firearms into their patient history-taking and urge parents who possess guns to prevent access to these guns by children.
