Mass shootings not the largest source of gun violence
Mass shootings continue to dominate news about fatal shootings, but Dr. Barnhorst notes that such shootings represent a very small part – reportedly 1% to 2% – of the firearm deaths in the United States. Almost two-thirds of the deaths are suicides. Domestic violence deaths make up another large sector.
But it’s the mass shootings that stick in the collective U.S. consciousness, and the rising and unrelenting numbers can lead to a sense of futility.
Dr. Barnhorst, Dr. Laine, and Dr. Wintemute acknowledge they don’t know to what degree physicians’ talking to patients about firearms can help. But they do not doubt it’s worthy of the effort.
Dr. Laine said that during the past year, COVID-19 overshadowed the focus on the pledge, but he notes the signup for the pledge remains open. Information on firearm injury is collected on the Annals website.
Dr. Barnhorst says there is no good answer to the question of how many lives need to be saved before talking with patients about firearms becomes worth the effort. “For me,” she said, “that number is very, very low.”
Dr. Laine puts the number at one.
“If a physician talking to their patients about firearms prevents one suicide, then the intervention is a success,” she said.
Dr. Laine, Dr. Barnhorst, and Dr. Wintemute report no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.