Introducing Brady’s “This Is Our Lane” Advisory Council: A United Front Against Gun Violence
I am thrilled to share that I am now a member of the first-ever national council of healthcare professionals dedicated to freeing America from gun violence through proven public health solutions. This groundbreaking initiative, Brady’s “This Is Our Lane” Advisory Council, brings together experts from all care specialties, including school nursing, to address one of our nation’s most pressing issues.
Changing Conversations, Not Just Laws
Ending the epidemic of gun violence in America requires more than just changing our laws; it necessitates a shift in the conversations we have within healthcare settings. Leveraging Brady’s decades of bipartisan policy leadership, this new Advisory Council aims to empower healthcare professionals to foster a safer culture around firearm use and access. By raising our voices and using our skills, we can advocate for proven public health solutions.
Prevention: The Best Medicine
Prevention is the best medicine, and this advisory council is poised to help us treat this uniquely American epidemic. Composed of 12 diverse members and chaired by trauma surgeon and survivor, Dr. Joe Sakran, the council reflects the deep engagement of healthcare professionals to address gun violence through a public health response.
Key Initiatives
This Gun Violence Awareness Month, “This Is Our Lane” will release a research-based guide to train healthcare professionals on how to discuss firearm access with their patients. This effort aims to reduce firearm injuries and suicides by equipping medical professionals with the knowledge and tools to have these critical conversations.
Our Objectives
The Advisory Council launches with five key objectives:
- Increase Funding: Substantially increase firearm violence prevention funding over the next five years.
- Government Reports: Encourage the Office of the Surgeon General to write a report on firearms violence prevention and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to declare firearm violence as a public health crisis.
- Strategic Planning: Develop a strategic plan to commission a consensus study through the National Academy of Medicine on firearm violence prevention.
- Advocacy Training: Establish an advocacy training program for healthcare professionals.
- Amplify Expertise: Amplify the voices of healthcare professionals and those affected by firearm violence in the media, including through Brady’s Show Gun Safety effort in TV/film.
The Genesis of “This Is Our Lane”
The origins of “This Is Our Lane” date back to a 2018 comment by the NRA, which suggested that doctors should “stay in their lane” regarding firearm violence. In response, Brady’s Chief Medical Officer, trauma surgeon, and gun violence survivor Dr. Joseph Sakran launched @ThisIsOurLane. This community of healthcare professionals is dedicated to reducing firearm injuries and deaths, sparking a grassroots movement that views gun violence as a public health issue.
Addressing the Epidemic
Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children and young people in America, but we are not powerless to change this. Changing laws and policies is essential, but we must also change behaviors and attitudes to create a safer culture around firearm use and access. America has successfully shifted attitudes and behaviors with other major public health crises, such as youth smoking, seatbelt usage, and drunk driving. We can do the same with gun violence.
Promoting Safe Practices
Given that one in three Americans own firearms, we can promote responsible gun ownership, including safe firearm storage. June 21 is ASK Day, which stands for Asking Saves Kids. On ASK Day, parents and caretakers are reminded to ask: “Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?” This simple question can save lives, as it addresses the issue of children having access to unlocked or unsupervised guns in their homes.
In the United States, 4.6 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun, leading to thousands of injuries or deaths each year. By normalizing the question about gun safety, just as we do with other safety concerns, we can prevent family fire—shootings involving improperly stored or misused guns at home.
Take Action
Parents and caregivers can make a significant difference by asking about firearms in the home and encouraging others to do the same. Learn more about ASK Day at askingsaveskids.org and safe firearm storage at endfamilyfire.org. Together, we can save lives and create a safer environment for our children and communities.
Join us in this vital movement. Let’s change the conversation and save lives.
This IS your lane Robin! So proud to have you on this national council! Thanks for all of your hard work and dogged determination to address this as the public health issue that it is. I love the CHANGING CONVERSATIONS piece of this!
This is great news! And a positive step in addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country. Put it in the public health lane where it belongs. We need evidence based science solutions to this epidemic that is killing our children. We did it for smallpox let’s do the same for gun violence. Eradicate this scourge.