Firearm Injury Prevention
Revised and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 2011, October 2012
Reaffirmed by the ACEP Board of Directors October 2007
Approved by the ACEP Board of Directors February 2001 replacing policy statements "Firearm Dealers" (CR 1994), "Firearm Legislation" (CR 1989), "Firearm Possession" (CR 1994), "Firearms-Consumer Product Safety" (CR 1994), "Handgun Ownership" (CR 1993), "Handgun Purchase" (CR 1994), "Handguns" (CR 1985), "Handguns and Handgun Ammunition-Federal Taxes" (CR 1994), "Handguns-Size and Safe Design Requirements" (CR 1995), and "Semiautomatic Weapons" (CR 1989) - all rescinded in February 2001
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) deplores the improper use of firearms resulting in death and injury. The College supports legislative and public health efforts to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths.
ACEP endorses efforts to:
- Aggressively enforce current laws against illegal possession, purchase, sale, or use of firearms;
- Ensure that new firearms are rendered as safe as possible through regulation similar to that used for other consumer products;
- Decrease the threat to public safety that results from the widespread availability of assault weapons and high capacity ammunition feeding devices including a ban on the sale of assault weapons and high capacity magazines;
- Limit the availability of firearms to those whose ability to responsibly handle a weapon is assured;
- Encourage the creation and evaluation of community and school-based education programs targeting the prevention of firearm injuries;
- Educate the public about the risks of improperly stored firearms, especially in the home;
- Increase public and private funding for the development, evaluation and implementation of evidence based programs and policies to reduce firearm related injury and death;
- Hold individuals legally accountable for harm resulting from unauthorized use of firearms; and
- Work with stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies to prevent firearm injury and death.