The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons believes that death, injury and disability resulting from firearm violence must be reduced.
Firearm violence is a significant public health problem.
The Academy believes that the public should recognize the following information which outlines an epidemic of injury and death due to firearms. Firearms are involved in the deaths of more than 37,000 people each year, the second leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Firearm deaths have increased 60 percent since 1968. Accidental shootings account for 5 percent of all firearm deaths in the United States each year. Youths in the home, under the age of 20, are involved in 84 percent of these cases.