Healthcare CEOs urge Congress to act on gun violence
More than 200 American CEOs––including several prominent healthcare leaders––banded together to demand action from Congress on gun violence.
In a letter to the Senate, the CEOs stated the recent mass shootings––including a school in Ulvade, Texas, and a shooting at a market in Buffalo, New York––reveal a gun violence epidemic in the country. The letter touched on grim statistics in the U.S.––110 people are shot and killed in the U.S. every day––as well as the fact that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the nation.
“Taken together, the gun violence epidemic represents a public health crisis that continues to devastate communities–especially Black and Brown communities–and harm our national economy,” the letter reads. “All of this points to a clear need for action: the Senate must take urgent action to pass bold gun safety legislation as soon as possible in order to avoid more death and injury.”
Among the CEOs who signed the letter are a handful of prominent healthcare leaders, including:
- Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS, CEO & Executive Director, The Permanente Medical Group, Inc. President & CEO The MidAtlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C. Kaiser Permanente
- Michael J. Dowling, President & CEO, Northwell Health
- Neil M. Meltzer, President & CEO, LifeBridge Health
- Russell Glass, CEO, Headspace Health
- Marc Gorelick, President & CEO, Children's Minnesota
- Thomas W Scott, President & CEO, CentraState Healthcare System
Healthcare organizations have increasingly voiced that gun violence should be studied as a public health emergency, with actions taken. Renewed calls for action follow a shooting at a Tulsa hospital last week, when a gunman killed four others, including the doctor who performed back surgery on the shooter.
The letter also touched on the economic impact of gun violence in the U.S.
“On top of the human toll is a profound economic impact,” the CEOs wrote. “At a time when our economy is struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence costs American taxpayers, employers and communities a staggering $280 billion per year. Employers lose $1.4 million every day in productivity and revenue, and costs associated with victims of gun violence. Communities that experience gun violence struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and see economic growth.”
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."