The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP), overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris, today is convening a gathering of healthcare executives, practitioners, and service providers to mark the start of Gun Violence Awareness Month.
The summit, which is the first of its kind, will bring together nearly 80 representatives from major health systems, hospitals, and organizations across the country.
The meeting will focus on the critical roles that healthcare entities can play in mitigating gun violence through hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPS), firearm-risk screening, secure gun storage counseling, and comprehensive data collection.
A Call to Action
Friday’s events, coinciding with Wear Orange Day to honor gun violence victims and survivors, will see 80 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and emergency responders, gathering at the White House. They will discuss the trauma and long-term impacts of gun violence they encounter in their communities and how they can contribute to mitigating this crisis.
Key organizations such as Doctors for America, Brady United, and the American College of Emergency Physicians will join survivors and advocates in discussions.
Federal Efforts to Combat Gun Violence
President Biden’s administration has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ending the gun violence epidemic. This includes new executive actions announced in January 2024 to promote safe firearm storage in partnership with the Departments of Education and Justice, in alignment with the President’s Executive Order on gun safety.
The American Rescue Plan has provided states and localities with over $15 billion to enhance public safety and prevent violence, while the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), signed in 2022, allocated an additional $15 billion for mental health, school safety, and violence intervention programs.
