In response...
Responding to Gun Violence
AACAP supports addressing gun violence as a public health issue and remains firm to its Policy Statement on Children and Guns, adopted in October 2000 and last updated in June 2016, which states that the most effective measure to help prevent firearm-related deaths and injuries to children and adolescents is to reduce the presence of guns in homes and communities. We also strongly support all efforts to educate children and the public about the danger of guns, and the increased risk of accidental injury and death associated with gun ownership.
AACAP further supports increased funding for research on gun safety and the prevention of gun related violence and opposes legislative efforts to restrict or inhibit such initiatives. Additionally, AACAP encourages the strict enforcement of existing laws pertaining to the purchase, ownership, and storage of firearms, as well as safety measures designed to protect children and reduce the incidence of gun related violence.
Senseless acts of violence frequently in the headlines emphasize the need for our policy statement as well as action addressing this public health issue. We hope by declaring a strong stance on this current topic to improve the health of youth everywhere.
We’ve compiled the following resources in hopes of helping children and families deal with violence: