Never Just a Shot in the Dark: Pediatric Firearm Advocacy

Abstract

Firearms remain a common cause of injury in children. Advocacy is a tool that can be useful in effecting systemic change. Yet for firearm injury prevention, traditional methods of effecting change face unique barriers not experienced in other areas of pediatric injury prevention. As pediatric emergency medicine physicians, we are on the front lines, and as part of the receiving end of the trauma inflicted on our communities by firearms, ours is a powerful voice well suited to overcome these barriers. Current firearm advocacy efforts include raising awareness via social media or editorials, organizing larger advocacy groups for support, challenging legislation, and implementing hospital-based violence intervention programs. Future advocacy directions should include collaborating with unique partners, teleadvocacy, direct action, and finding common ground with gun regulation opposition. Physician advocacy is essential to firearm injury prevention. Continuing to innovate around our advocacy efforts will be vital to the health and safety of our patients.