Join/Renew

ACEP ID:

Firearm Injury Prevention

ACEP believes emergency physicians have a public health responsibility to reduce the prevalence and impact of violence through advocacy, education, legislation, and research initiatives. For decades, ACEP has sought to address the issue of firearms violence in particular by supporting both public and private efforts to fund high-quality firearms injury prevention and control research, as well as by supporting commonsense, evidence-based policy solutions.

Advocacy

Given the multitude of factors and considerations involved in this complex public health problem, we fully recognize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution that will fully eliminate the impact of firearm injuries, violence, trauma, and death, but specific interventions and proven policies together can help reduce their frequency and scope. Our policy emphasizes a range of solutions, including the need for more research, universal background checks, restrictions on weapons and large-capacity magazines designed for military or law enforcement use, among others. It also supports a variety of public health and health care efforts such as investigating social determinants and other cultural risk factors on patterns of firearms injury, promoting access to effective and affordable mental health resources for emergency patients for whom a firearm poses a real risk to themselves or others, supporting community- or hospital-based early intervention programs, among a host of others.

Policy Statements

Medical Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention Promotes Collaborative Approach to Address Firearm Violence

Major medical organizations form a coalition to stem the rising tide of firearm violence using a comprehensive public health approach.

Learn More About the Summit

Public Statements

ACEP Commends Passage of Firearm Injury Prevention Legislation

ACEP President Comments on Recent Shootings, ACEP's Firearm Violence Policy

Standing AFFIRM for the public health approach to firearm injury

ACEP Statement on Texas High School Shooting

Preventing Firearm Injuries: A Call for Action

Update on Firearm Violence Initiatives

Section Resources

ACEP's Sections of Membership provide additional resources related to firearm injury prevention.  Please visit their respective websites for more information. 

Learn More

Learn More
 

As a necessary part of ensuring effective legislative advocacy, ACEP’s political action committee, the National Emergency Medicine Political Action Committee (NEMPAC), donates the voluntary contributions of ACEP members to candidates who will work on behalf of issues that are important to you, the specialty, and your patients. ACEP is not a single-issue organization; we advocate on a variety of important that require us to work with both parties. We don’t always agree with every candidate on every issue. We support Republicans and Democrats and take into consideration the diverse political views of our members and the current political environment. 

Learn More About NEMPAC

Publications

 

Council Resolutions

(Council Resolutions not available on the website)

1995

  • Amended Resolution 69(95) Firearm Legislation.

1994

  • Amended Resolution 48(94) Increased Taxes on Handguns and Ammunition. Advocated for increased taxes on handguns and ammunition with proceeds going to fund the care of victims and/or programs to prevent gun violence and to fund firearm safety education.
  • Referred Resolution 47(94) Firearm Classification. Requested ACEP to support legislation classifying firearms into three categories: 1) prohibited; 2) licensed; and 3) unlicensed.
  • Amended Resolution 46(94) Photo Identification and Qualifications for Firearm Possession. Directed ACEP to support legislation requiring photo identification and specific qualifications for firearm possession.
  • Substitute Resolution 45(94) Firearm Possession. Supported legislation (as was passed in the crime bill) to make it illegal for persons under 21 and persons convicted of violent crimes, spousal and/or child abuse or subject to a protective order to possess firearms;  illegal to transfer firearms to juveniles; and support legislation making it illegal to leave a loaded handgun where it is accessible to a juvenile.
  • Substitute Resolution 44(94) Firearm Legislation. Support comprehensive legislation to limit federal firearms licenses.
  • Amended Resolution 43(94) Support of National Safety Regulations for Firearms. Supported national safety regulations for firearms.

1989

  • Amended Resolution 14(89) Ban on Assault Weapons. Support federal and state legislation to regulate as fully automatic weapons are regulated, the sale, possession, or transfer of semi-automatic assault weapons to private citizens and support legislation mandating jail sentences for individuals convicted of the use of a semi-automatic assault weapon in the commission of a crime.
  • Amended Resolution 13(89) Waiting Period to Purchase Firearms. Support federal and state legislation to require 15-day waiting period for the sale, purchase, or transfer of any firearm to allow time for a background check on the individual and also support legislation mandating significant penalties for possession of a firearm while committing a crime.

1984

  • Substitute Resolution 16(84) Ban on Handguns. Deplored the loss of life and limb secondary to the improper use of handguns; supported legislation mandating significant penalties for possession of a handgun while committing a crime; support legislation mandating significant penalties for the illegal sale of handguns; support a waiting period for all prospective handgun buyers; supported successful completion of an education program on handgun safe for all prospective handgun buyers; support development of educational programs on the proper use of handguns for existing owners; support requiring screening of prospective handgun buyers for previous criminal records and mental health problems that have led to violent behavior.
[ Feedback → ]