NLN Grieves for Victims of Gun Violence & Calls for Increased Support for Mental Health

NLN Grieves for Victims of Gun Violence & Calls for Increased Support for Mental Health

Urgent Action Needed to Address Mental Health Issues & Gun Violence Prevention

Washington, DC — On behalf of the nursing education community, the National League for Nursing offers heartfelt condolences and grieves for the lives lost in yesterday’s senseless shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville. As the first and oldest nursing association in the country, the well-being of individuals, families and communities is a major public health issue.

This epidemic of mass shootings must stop. Too many individuals, including our youngest children, are losing their lives unnecessarily to gun violence. The trauma and loss of life from these shootings inflicts terrible pain and anguish on families, communities, first responders, and those who care for the wounded.

The National League for Nursing renews our call for common sense federal and state gun safety legislation that helps keep firearms away from criminals or individuals with mental illness. It is easier to buy a gun than to get a driver’s license.

Additionally, to save lives and protect the public’s 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 causes of violence
• NIH and CDC research into gun violence prevention
• Educational initiatives that foster a culture of inclusion
• Training of nurses and all health care providers on how to identify the warning signs of violence and to refer patients to appropriate resources for assistance
  

All nurses and nurse educators join together to mourn the appalling loss of life in Nashville and in too many of our communities nationwide. We continue to pledge to do whatever we can, as public health servants and advocates, to turn words into actions that we hope will break this cycle of grief and despair.

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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 nearly 45,000 individual and over 1,000 institutional members, including nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations. Learn more at NLN.org.