Theodore A. Christopher, MD, FACEP
Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

As an emergency department physician working at an urban trauma center, I have witnessed first hand the devastating toll created by gun violence: sudden, unexpected traumatic death, disabling injury, suicide, homicide and domestic violence. Even though I have seen years and years of the affects of gun violence, I've never grown accustomed to witnessing the pain and suffering by family members and friends who have lost a loved one to gunshot injury.

On a very pragmatic level, the traumatic resuscitation of a patient sustaining a gunshot wound can tie up physicians, nurses and other staff members in a busy emergency department for hours. This worsens emergency department crowding and places other patients at risk, especially those in the waiting room.

Gun violence places a tremendous burden on our health care system. Direct medical costs for gunshot wounds at our state's hospitals increasingly burden an already costly health care system.

While most of us view gun violence solely as a crime issue, it is, in fact, a broad-based public health issue. Efforts to prevent gun violence must be as vigilant as campaigns used to encourage seat belt use or reduce smoking. I urge all physicians and gun control advocates to counsel their patients and legislators on handgun use and safety, support community actions to reduce gun related injuries and endorse legislative and regulatory measures to reduce gun violence. We must continue to work to keep the dialogue open in the ongoing debate of gun control and hopefully find common ground on improving gun safety.

Together, we can all make a difference, and bring greater security and peace to our emergency rooms and streets.

» more voices

See our videos on the Moms Against Guns YouTube Channel