Roughly 45,222 People died from gun-related accidents in 2020, the best recorded quantity in U.S. historical past, in keeping with recent CDC data. Firearms had been concerned in 79% of all homicides and 53% of all suicides.
The suicide charge elevated most for American Indian/Alaska Native individuals whereas the murder charge grew most for Black individuals.
Regardless of the danger that weapons pose to households, one in 5 American households purchased a handgun in the course of the pandemic, in keeping with College of Chicago NORC analysis.
These numbers — and lots of extra — validate the rising recognition of violence as a public well being difficulty.
To handle these alarming and growing concerns, AHCJ for the primary time ever will dedicate its fall summit to protecting violence with a specific deal with gun violence. “Protecting violence as a public well being difficulty: An AHCJ summit” will probably be held in Chicago on Oct. 27-28. Registration opens Monday.
This 1.5-day occasion will carry collectively specialists and journalists to debate a variety of violence and public well being subjects together with the place to seek out one of the best knowledge and analysis on weapons and gun deaths (suicide, murder and accidents); the gaps, go-to sources, and information and myths about firearms and firearm possession; excessive threat safety orders/ “pink flag” legal guidelines; the position of and impression on front-line medical professionals; the well being results of publicity to persistent violence; amongst others.
Go behind the scenes in a tour of considered one of Chicago’s busiest trauma facilities, the place you’ll meet with trauma surgeons, violence restoration specialists and others who look after sufferers of all ages who’ve been affected by intentional violence.
The summit hosts are the Joyce Basis and College of Chicago Medication. Sponsors are the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis and the Commonwealth Fund.
This yr marks the primary time since 2019, when AHCJ welcomed 102 individuals in Los Angeles, that the group has hosted its fall summit in particular person.
“Our goal is to extra firmly join violence to public well being and assist reframe the tales we are likely to see in relation to gun violence, which obtain lots of consideration within the breaking information section and too not often discover the upstream causes, long-lasting impression, or interventions,” mentioned Katherine Reed, AHCJ’s interim government director, and director of engagement and content material.
To register and for extra info, visit this webpage on Monday.
Keep tuned on our social media channels and our homepage for extra particulars and vital updates.
