Doctors Urged to Discuss Firearm Safety After Surge in U.S. Deaths

As firearm ownership rises and deaths surge, doctors face a new imperative: how—and when—to ask patients about guns. In 2022, 48,204 firearm deaths occurred in the U.S., with 56% classified as suicides and 41% as homicides.

Annually, 85,000 firearm injuries are reported, many leaving lasting harm. Firearm owners face tripled suicide risk and doubled homicide risk compared to non-owners, yet only 7.5% of adults in homes with firearms have discussed access with a provider.

Researchers propose the 3As Framework (Approach, Assess, Act) to guide clinicians in firearm safety discussions.

Dr. Amy Barnhorst noted: "Clinicians routinely ask about safety concerns, but most feel unprepared to talk about firearms." Dr. Angela M. Bayer emphasized: "By framing conversations around risk and safety, clinicians can build trust and tailor interventions."

A free online continuing education course for clinicians on firearm injury prevention is now available, though the study acknowledges limited real-world adoption of these practices.

With 32% of U.S. adults owning firearms and 7.5 million new owners between 2019-2021, the public health rationale for structured training is urgent. No independent expert commentary was included in the source.

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