Decrying Senseless Gun Violence, NLN Issues Urgent Call for Bold Action to Combat Rising Public Health Crisis
Decrying Senseless Gun Violence, NLN Issues Urgent Call for Bold Action to Combat Rising Public Health Crisis
Washington, DC — From this month’s racist violence that claimed 10 lives in a Buffalo, New York, supermarket, to the unprovoked fatal shooting of an individual on a New York City subway, to the 19 children and two adults gunned down in a rural Texas elementary school classroom, May alone has made clear that a growing public health crisis demands bold and swift action, says the National League for Nursing.As the leading voice for nursing education whose membership includes first responders, the League is calling for immediate Senate passage of H.R. 8, the “Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021,” already passed by the House of Representatives.
We implore lawmakers to put aside partisan differences and not turn the heart wrenching loss of innocent children and others into pawns for political expedience.
Common sense gun control legislation must provide for adequate and enforceable background checks, across state lines, to limit the sale of any arms to individuals with a history of mental illness or criminal behavior. It is unconscionable that it is easier
to purchase a deadly weapon than it is to obtain a driver’s license in most states, rent an apartment, or, ironically, apply for life insurance.
Additionally, to save lives now and support the long term national public health, the National League for Nursing supports measures that promote social justice reform, equitable access to health care for marginalized individuals and underserved communities,
and increased funding for:
— Mental health and other social services to address the social determinants of health that may lead to acts of violence
— NIH and CDC research into gun violence prevention
— Educational initiatives that foster a culture of inclusion, tolerance of difference, and racial-ethnic understanding
In the immediate wake of this week’s deadly event in Uvalde, Texas, the National League for Nursing joins President Biden and scores of other individuals and organizations of good will to mourn the unspeakable loss of life there and offer deepest
condolences to the families and others directly affected. And, we pledge to do whatever we can, as public health servants and advocates, to turn heartfelt words into actionable policies and plans that work to break the current cycle of death and grief.
About the National League for Nursing
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its nearly 45,000 individual and 1,100 institutional members, comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.