How does Gun Violence affect your health?

What do guns have to do with health? Actually a lot. Health is measured in two ways: Mortality (Duration of Life) and Morbidity (Degree of Illness) both of which are being severely impacted by Gun Violence. I actually started this blog a while ago but the events in the Navy Yard today caused me to resurrect it. Are we not yet tired of this violence and the thing that begets it : Uncontrolled Access to weapons? There are age groups were gun violence is the leading cause of death and young people have more to fear from Gun Violence than actual diseases we can be immunized against. The incidence of gun related suicide is directly related to ease of gun access.I'm not a politician and I am not trying to be one but let's get real, look at the numbers, Gun Control has become a Public Health issue and is working its way to the top of the list. Soon we will be more concerned about stopping a bullet than getting cancer. Nail me to the stake if you have to but as a Public Health professional allow me to say what needs to be said. More important PLEASE stop and educate yourself on the situation and be glad it wasn't someone in your family who got killed this year. However would you not rather act before it hits closer to home? I was initially moved to write this blog earlier this year when I read about a University of Maryland student who got killed by another student over some frivolous incident. The first thing that came to mind was: "Yet another parent who thought they had finally got their kid in college, only to turn around and they are gone in a puff of smoke" (How many since Virginia Tech?) Just food for thought. Please Be Well, Oh, and stay alive !