Physicians Call for Ban on Handguns
To: National Desk Contact: Sharon Pickett, 301-365-9307, for Physicians for Social Responsibility
WASHINGTON, July 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As the nation reels from another bloody massacre, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) calls on policymakers to take the only action that can help to prevent this kind of senseless tragedy -- a ban on handguns.
"This kind of senseless slaughter has to stop," says Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., executive director of PSR. "What kind of society allows someone suspected of murder to walk around with a handgun? It is time for the U.S. to join other civilized nations and enact a ban on handguns. PSR calls on citizens to send a clear message to Congress that we are not willing to tolerate the insane laws that allow such tragedies to happen."
The statistics on gun violence speak for themselves:
-- Handguns are used in 54 percent of all murders.
-- A new handgun is produced every 20 seconds.
-- In 1980, handguns accounted for 32 percent of all firearms. In 1994, they accounted for 77 percent.
-- Only cancer, heart disease and motor vehicle accidents cause more deaths than guns.
-- A gun in the home is 43 times more likely to kill a family member or friend than it is to be used to kill an intruder.
-- The death rate from firearms in the United States is eight times higher than other affluent, industrialized countries.
In addition to a ban on handguns, PSR advocates other important actions to reduce the risk of gun violence including firearm safety standards, regulation of gun sales to minors, penalizing irresponsible gun owners whose firearms make it into the hands of children, improvements to firearm data collection and tracking systems, and increased funding for crucial firearm-related research and education.
"PSR physicians, who see the grim aftermath of shooting incidents every day, know that gun violence is a costly and preventable public health epidemic," says Dr. Musil. "Many people didn't use car safety belts until after laws mandated their use. We now accept safety belts as common sense, not as restrictions on personal freedom. On behalf of PSR's 15,000 members, we call on Congress to take action NOW."
Available for Interviews Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., is executive director and CEO of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR), a national nonprofit organization working to prevent gun violence through public education and sensible gun control policies. Dr. Musil is on the steering committee of the Handgun Epidemic Lowering Plan (HELP), a coalition of health organizations engaged in efforts to reduce gun violence. Dr. Musil has conducted debates with spokespersons from the National Rifle Association and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs. He is currently an adjunct professor at American University.
-0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 07/30 11:14
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