Surgeon General says gun violence is an epidemic

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The surgeon general says gun violence in America is now a public health crisis. Dr. Vivek Murthy warns the epidemic not only impacts victims of gun violence but also the mental health of our country as a whole.

This type of advisory can help shift the course of public health history, most notably when it raised awareness about the dangers of smoking tobacco and Dr. Murthy says he wants to do that now.

"Gun violence is a public health issue,” said Murthy. He added, "gun violence has now become the leading cause of death among kids and teens and that was not true a decade ago, two decades ago."

Murthy says the advisory not only focuses on the deaths and injuries involving firearms but also the ripple effects.

"Those reverberating traumas have taken a toll on the mental health of our country,” he said.

Murthy says public health advisories can make a difference, pointing to the 1964 surgeon general report about the dangers of smoking tobacco.

"That ultimately dramatically dropped smoking rates from 42% in 1964 to under 12% today,” he said.

Murthy's advisory on gun violence proposes a ban on automatic rifles, universal background checks and penalties for people who don't safely store their firearms.

The National Rifle Association quickly condemned the advisory saying, "this is an extension of the Biden administration's war on law-abiding gun owners. America has a crime problem caused by criminals."

"We need Congress to keep pushing for and passing new legislation, said Rob Wilcox of the White House Office of Gun Violence.

Wilcox says the advisory should push lawmakers to put partisan politics aside.

"So that we can keep saving lives in this country,” Wilcox added.

Murthy says in the absence of action at the federal level, state lawmakers, even community organizations and schools could adopt some of his recommendations

A new White House report found the law's enhanced background checks has stopped about 800 sales of guns to people under 21 years old and more than 500 people, including some linked to cartels and crime rings, have been charged with gun trafficking and other crimes.