American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. Those who read it should consider the following points. Handling gun violence as a public health problem is doomed to failure. Unlike alcoholism or domestic violence, which are common across all socioeconomic classes, gun violence is overwhelmingly related to poverty and its associated ills.
Most gun violence stems from the illicit drug trade and youth gangs.
The lure of easy money or peer support from gangs is irresistible to the children of poverty and dysfunctional families. The illegal drug trade nets billions of dollars each year, all outside government regulation. Competition is vicious and deadly. Therefore, participants buy the best weapons available anywhere in the world. Smuggling is their specialty.