November 2025 Pediatric Lecture Series: Pediatric Firearm Injury Prevention and Advocacy-Session Slides

Session Slides

Pdf Summary

This presentation, led by Drs. Ashlee Jaffe, Vivek Ashok, and Naomi Warnick, emphasizes the urgent need for effective firearm safety advocacy to combat gun violence, the leading cause of death among American children. Triggered by the Highland Park, Illinois mass shooting on July 4, 2022, where 83 shots were fired, killing 7 and injuring 40, the presenters describe how tragedy has galvanized healthcare professionals to engage in non-partisan, child-focused advocacy efforts.<br /><br />Physicians are powerful advocates who can translate research into policy and political action to prevent firearm injuries. Advocacy includes community education, patient-level interventions like safe storage counseling, and legislative efforts targeting federal, state, and local levels. Evidence-based firearm injury prevention policies highlighted include assault weapons bans, universal background checks, and safe storage laws. These laws have been shown to significantly reduce firearm fatalities, suicides, and unintentional injuries among youth.<br /><br />Key statistics reveal that 4.6 million children live in homes with unsecured firearms, 3,400 children die by firearm-related suicide annually, and most school shooting firearms come from home. Child Access Prevention laws and Extreme Risk Protection Orders are effective measures demonstrated to reduce deaths and injuries. Universal background checks correlate with a 35% decrease in pediatric firearm mortality.<br /><br />The authors stress that safe storage legislation does not restrict legal gun ownership but reduces access to firearms by children and impulsive uses, helping prevent tragedies. Physicians are encouraged to leverage community campaigns, patient education, and political advocacy to support these evidence-based solutions.<br /><br />In conclusion, gun violence prevention requires coordinated efforts by healthcare professionals advocating for data-driven policies, education, and legislation to protect children. The presentation invites medical institutions to engage further in this lifesaving work, reinforcing that every advocate can make a meaningful difference.

Keywords

firearm safety advocacy

gun violence prevention

child firearm fatalities

Highland Park shooting

physician advocacy

safe storage laws

universal background checks

Child Access Prevention laws

Extreme Risk Protection Orders

healthcare policy