Gun violence is a leading cause of death in the United States. With more than 12,000 women and allies in medicine, and 100 medical institution chapters across the country, AMWA is uniquely positioned to address this public health crisis.

Our Mission:

To advocate for evidence-informed solutions that address the needs of our diverse patient population, assure equity, and are inclusive of those most impacted by gun violence.

Our Objectives:

• To educate healthcare professionals and students about gun violence prevention policies and practices, using a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• To advocate for gun violence solutions on the clinical, institutional, community, and legislative levels.
• To evaluate gun violence prevention evidence-based policies and practices, as they apply to health and public health practitioners.

In 2020, guns become the #1 cause of death for U.S. children.

In 2023, AMWA proposes 3 public health actions endorsed by more than 1,000 physicians, medical students, and other health professionals:

1. A public health advisory and action plan, urgently addressing gun violence as the number one cause of death in U.S. children
2. Equitable federal data reporting of firearm-related harm in children
3. A child-focused definition of gun violence to include exposure to firearm-related harm

A Brief History of Gun Violence Research

Gun violence research in the US has been hindered since 1996, with the Congressional passage of the Dickey Amendment. The Dickey Amendment states that “none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be used to advocate or promote gun control.”  In response to #ThisIsOurLane and other advocacy, congress allocated $25 million for federal firearm-related research in 2020, and increased the funding to $50 million in 2021. AMWA continues to advocate for increased research funding.

Our Scholarly Projects

Our committee is working to understand and expand the scope of gun safety education in accredited medical school curricula. 

To get involved, contact us at gunviolencesolutions@amwa-doc.org.

Practice

• Bulletpoints Project – How to Counsel patients on gun safety
• Printable Patient brochure on Firearm Safety — Pamphlet for patients
• How to Have a Conversation with Patients about Gun Safety — Pamphlet for providers

Policy

• Center for American Progress information on Guns and Crime
• American Public Health Association Gun Violence Prevention Resources
• John Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions
• American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement
• Center for Disease Control: Fast Facts: Firearm Violence Prevention

Media and Messaging

• Then They Came For Me — Powerful video on Pittsburgh shooting
• How to Have a Conversation with Patients about Gun Safety — Pamphlet for providers 
• Under the Gun movie
• Harvard School of Public Health: Gun Violence, A Public Health Issue 

Narrative Based Advocacy

Gun Violence Solutions was created in response to escalating gun violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. By using narrative-based advocacy, we are able to amplify the voices of those most affected, to advocate for solutions that are community driven, and to build long lasting partnerships.

Unloading: Community Solutions for Gun Violence

The podcast was created by the American Medical Women’s Association to illuminate diverse perspectives across the country about solutions to the epidemic of Gun Violence. Hosted by Minorvi Amin and Katharine Ross.

Listen on the Following Platforms:

AMWA Joins Newtown Action Alliance #EndGunViolence Lunch and Lobby Sessions

Media

• AMWA supports President Biden’s ban on assault weapons (Dec. 2022)
• AMWA Gun Violence Solutions Committee Advocates for Protect Our Kids Act and Other Gun Violence Prevention Bills (Dec. 7, 2022)
• AMWA supports Biden’s crackdown on ghost guns (April 11, 2022)
• Improving health care includes addressing gun violence (March 7, 2022)
• AMWA Past President Dr. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber Pens Letter on Gun Violence (IndyStar, June 5, 2018)
• Gun Violence Prevention in the News — Op-Ed by Dr. Nina Agrawal (AMWA Blog, March 6, 2018)
• AMWA Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Press Release (AMWA Blog, February 21, 2018)
• “Remember Me, Promise Us” is a song by Dr. Mary Rorro, in response to the young lives lost in the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Dr. Rorro hopes her song will help ensure lives lost will not be forgotten and not die in vain. Remember Me, Promise Us

Actions

• February 28, 2023 – AMWA sends letter to HHS urging a 3-action plan to (1) Direct the CDC to issue an updated National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention to include firearm related harm (last published by the CDC in 2012), (2) Require equitable data practices consistent with the recommendations of the 2022 White House Equitable Data Working Group, and (3) Promote a child-focused CDC definition of firearm related harm to include exposure to gun violence.
• December 14, 2022 – AMWA signs on to letter delivered to Congress on the 10th anniversary of Sandy Hook
• June 21, 2022 – AMWA joins other healthcare organizations in signing on to a gun violence prevention letter to the US Senate
• June 6, 2022 – AMWA joins Giffords as a partner for its gun violence prevention memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC
• April 28, 2022 – AMWA signs on to letter along with other organizations in the medical, public health, and research community in support of $50 million in federal gun violence prevention research funding to the CDC and NIH in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023
• February 25, 2022 – AMWA signs on to a follow-up letter to the White House outlining a list of Executive Actions the President could take in order to reduce gun violence

Our Advocacy Partners

• AFFIRM
• Bulletpoints
• Community Justice Action Fund
• #Enough: Plays to End Gun Violence
• Newtown Action Alliance

Get Involved

Come to a meeting and learn more! We meet monthly on Mondays at 7 pm ET.

For questions, please contact us at gunviolencesolutions@amwa-doc.org

Past Events

Gun Violence Literacy for Health Professionals Webinar Series 

• 11/14/22- Keeping Kids Safe from Gun Violence: Policies, Practice, Progress with Dr. Lois Lee, Chair-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention & Po Murray, Co-Founder/Co-Chair of Newton Action Alliance
• 11/15/21- Gun Violence: A Gripping Narrative with Mr. Greg Jackson, Executive Director, Community Justice Action Fund
• 10/25/21- Pediatric Firearm Advocacy: Never Just a Shot in the Dark with Katie Donnelly MD, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children’s National
• 09/27/21- The Effects of Gun Violence in Schools with Robin Cogan RN, New Jersey Director for the National Association of School Nurses
• 07/28/21- Repealing Gun Industry Immunity from Civil Liability with Josh Horwitz JD, Executive Director, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
• 06/16/21-Preventing Firearm Violence and Suicide: What Clinicians Can Do with Amy Barnhorst MD, Associate Clinical Professor, UC Davis (Bulletpoints)