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By Maggie Fox
A social media war erupted Thursday between doctors and the National Rifle Association. Twelve people were shot dead in a California nightclub and a few hours before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new statistics showing an increase in firearm deaths in the country.
Doctors and medical officials have increasingly taken armed violence as a public health issue. Last month, the American College of Physicians issued new guidelines for physicians to protect patients from the dangers of firearms and published several reports on gun violence in its flagship publication, Annals of Internal Medicine.
"We need to interview our patients about firearms, advise them on the safe behavior of firearms, and take additional action in the event of imminent danger," said Dr. Garen Wintemute, of the Prevention Research Program. Violence at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. in an editorial of the magazine.
On Wednesday, the NRA challenged the ACP, which represents more than 150,000 internal medicine specialists. "Someone should tell the anti-gun doctors who are so important to stay in their lane," tweeted the group.
Doctors on Twitter have piled up.
"We are not anti-firearms; We are bulletproof in our patients, "said Dr. Esther Choo of the University of Health Sciences and State Sciences of Oregon in a tweet Thursday morning.
Dr. Joseph Sakran, director of general emergency surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine, tweeted his dismay at the "declaration of division" of the firearms advocacy group.
"We take care of these patients every day. Where are you when I have to tell all those families that their loved one is dead? ", He wrote.
And the Annals of Internal Medicine, the influential journal of the CPA, tweeted the commitment of its 33,000 followers to talk about gun violence with their at-risk patients.
Physicians have increasingly fought for more freedom to conduct research on gun violence and deaths, and to educate patients about the risks they pose. In Florida, lawmakers have sought to prevent doctors from asking questions about firearms at home. In 2017, a federal court of appeal is against the law.
And Congress had quietly limited the CDC's research on gun violence by using carefully crafted legislation and budget cuts that exactly matched the CDC's budget for such research.
Former President Barack Obama has asked the CDC to resume its research on firearms.
Increase in violent crime, suicide
The CDC on Thursday released new data showing that the number of firearm-related deaths increased in 2015-16 after having begun to decline in previous years. The report indicates that the increase in the number of deaths is due to both violent crime and suicides.
"In 2015-16, homicide was the 16th leading cause of death among people of all ages in the United States and the third leading cause among youth aged 10 to 19; a gun injury was the underlying cause of death in 74% of homicides and 87% of homicides committed by youth, "said the CDC team in its new report.
More than 27,000 people were killed by guns in 2015-2016 and nearly 45,000 people committed suicide by using a firearm, the CDC said.
"The declines in firearm homicide rates observed previously have not continued, with the most recent rates showing an increase both nationally and in larger (urban areas)," wrote the author. 39, CDC team.
"It is too early to know whether the recent increase in firearm homicide rates represents a short-term fluctuation or the beginning of a long-term trend," the team added.
"From 2015 to 2016, violent crime increased 3.8% nationwide, 6.1% in cities of 250,000 and over, 2.2% in the suburbs, and 1.6% in non-metropolitan counties. "
Access to firearms is an obvious factor, the CDC said. Research shows that the decision to die by suicide is often a last-minute thought.
"Reducing access to murderous means during an acute suicidal crisis by safely storing firearms or temporarily removing them from home can help reduce the risk of suicide, especially among young people," he wrote. the team.
"Efforts to strengthen the financial security of households; stabilize housing; teach young people coping skills and problem solving skills; identify and support people at risk; and implementing proactive prevention policies in schools, workplaces and other organizational settings is associated with a reduction in the number of suicides, "added the CDC team.
Conservative policing can help reduce homicides, the CDC team said. The same is true for community efforts such as business improvement districts, housing tax credits and the cleaning of abandoned buildings and land. Restraining orders against people with a history of domestic violence can prevent homicides, as can background checks on firearms buyers.
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