We’re taking a stand against gun violence.

Join Us

“Just as physicians worked to safeguard public health by promoting smoking bans in public places, we should draw on similar motivations and strategies to promote sensible, evidence-based laws to decrease the harms associated with gun violence.
It is our responsibility to do so.”

~ Christine Laine, MD, Editor in Chief and Deputy Editors of Annals of Internal Medicine

Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

Mission Statement

Doctors 4 Gun Safety is committed to the premise that gun violence represents a public health crisis in the United States. As physicians we serve as advocates for the nation’s health. We are in a unique position to both identify and treat those at high risk for, or victimized by, violence.

Our goal is to use education, research and advocacy as methods to achieve safe and responsible gun ownership and use.

We are interested in forming an evidenced-based policy related to gun ownership. We recognize that gun violence is a multifactorial problem and we welcome the knowledge of law enforcement and experienced and responsible gun owners.

The prevention of unnecessary suffering, morbidity and mortality related to inappropriate gun access is a core value of our organization.

We recognize the need for the medical profession to be a part of the dialogue centered on protecting ourselves, our children, our patients and our fellow citizens.

Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

Specific areas of concern and focus include:

Public education and awareness of safety issues and risk factors for gun violence

Promoting the ban of military assault rifles and devices that increase the potential for mass violence

Promoting universal background checks for all venues of gun sales

Improved access to and funding for mental health services for those at risk of self harm or violence towards others

Opposing laws intended to limit a physician’s right to discuss gun ownership and safety with patients

Promote and encourage funding to research gun violence and the results of programs aimed at reducing it

Opposing concealed carry reciprocity

Active efforts to engage the police, gun shop owners and other key stakeholders in creating practical programs to promote gun safety and decrease the risk of violence

Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

Who We Are

We are a grassroots organization of doctors who believe that gun violence in the U.S. is a public health crisis.

We are not affiliated with any political party.

As physicians, we feel obligated not only to participate in the treatment of individuals but to assume a leadership role in the resolution of the gun violence epidemic.

Board of Directors

Ruth Waldbaum M.D.
  • President, Doctors 4 Gun Safety
  • Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Diplomat, American Board of Child and  Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
  • Past President, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Society (GLIPS)
  • GLIPS Task Force for Gun Violence
  • Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Karyl Cole M.D.
  • Secretary, Doctors 4 Gun Safety
  • Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Board Member, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Association
  • Chairman of Voluntary Physicians Council, Zucker Hillside Hospital
Victor Fornari M.D.
  • Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cohen Children’s Medical Center and The Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell
  • Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
  • Distinguished Life Fellow, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Risa Gold M.D.
  • Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Distinguished Life Fellow, APA
  • Past President, Greater Long Island Psychiatric Society (GLIPS)
  • GLIPS Task Force for Gun Violence
  • President, Miracle of Help: A women’s health charity in Sierra Leone
Jeffrey Oestreicher M.D.
  • Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/NorthwelI
  • Pediatric Trauma Center Physician, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
  • Co-Chair of The American Academy of Pediatrics Gun Violence Prevention Initiative in New York State
  • Diplomat, American Board of Pediatrics
Deborah Weisbrot M.D.
  • Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Renaissance School of Medicine Stony Brook University
  • Distinguished Fellow (AACAP)
  • Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
  • Diplomat, American Board of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Past Assembly Representative, New York State Psychiatric Association
Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

What You Can Do Now

READ!

We hope you will find the following articles of interest.

From: The New York Times – November 17, 2020

“The toll of self-inflicted gun deaths has led to an unusual alliance between suicide-prevention advocates and gun-rights proponents.”

CLICK HERE for Full Article

FROM: Reuters Health Information – April 19, 2019

Many Older U.S. Gun Owners Don’t Store Firearms Safely  

“Roughly one-third of older people in the U.S. may live in households with guns and a new study suggests that many of those firearms are not stored in the safest way: locked and unloaded.”

CLICK HERE for Full Article

FROM: The New Yorker – April 17, 2019

Secrecy, Self-Dealing, and Greed at the N.R.A.

“Even as the association has reduced spending on its avowed core mission—gun education, safety, and training—to less than ten per cent of its total budget, it has substantially increased its spending on messaging.” 

CLICK HERE for Full Article

FROM: New York Times – Apr 17, 2019

After Years of Poor Funding, Gun Research Is Suddenly Hot

“In Washington, research funding on this divisive topic remains anemic. A recent analysis found that gun research receives substantially less funding from the federal government than research for other major causes of death — only 1.6 percent of the funding the researchers would have predicted based on spending on comparable health problems.”

CLICK HERE for Full Article

FROM: New York Times – Apr 19, 2019

Why Gabby Giffords Is Starting a Gun Control Group for Gun Owners

“Former Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who nearly died after being shot in the head eight years ago, argues gun ownership can coexist with stricter gun laws.”

CLICK HERE for Full Article

S. 66: Assault Weapons Ban of 2019

CLICK HERE for Congressional Library Summary

This bill makes it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD).

The New York SAFE Act

CLICK HERE for New York State Summary

“The SAFE Act stops criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from buying a gun by requiring universal background checks on gun purchases, increases penalties for people who use illegal guns, mandates life in prison without parole for anyone who murders a first responder, and imposes the toughest assault weapons ban in the country. For hunters, sportsmen, and law-abiding gun owners, this new law preserves and protects your right to buy, sell, keep or use your guns.” – Governor Andrew Cuomo

Within the Act, MHL 9.46 requires mental health professionals (physicians (including psychiatrists), psychologists, registered nurses, or licensed clinical social workers) to report to their local director of community services (“DCS”) or his/her designees when, in their reasonable professional judgment, one of their patients is “likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to self or others.” For more information, please visit https://safeact.ny.gov/mental-health-faq. 

https://ballotpedia.org/Who_represents_me

“The vast majority of Americans have never contacted their elected officials about anything. Americans are comfortable leaving comments on social media, calling in to talk radio shows, signing petitions and even writing letters to the editor of their local paper, but they rarely pick up the phone and call their own representatives. That’s why these calls have such an impact. It’s not because callers are especially articulate, knowledgeable or important; it’s because the offices fielding the calls know that every caller represents a huge number of like-minded constituents who were personally reluctant to make direct contact.” – National Physicians Alliance – To read more, visit: NPAlliance.org

www.usa.gov/register-to-vote

Federal and state elections in the United States are run by the states themselves, according to Article I and Article II of the Constitution. No two states run their elections exactly the same, so contacting your state or local election office is the best way to find out about your state’s unique election rules.

Keep abreast of the issues and your local candidates prior to voting.  The League of Women Voters of New York State hosts local Meet the Candidate Nights in communities across the state. For a full calendar of their events, visit https://my.lwv.org/new-york-state/2018-candidate-debates-calendar

Take Action Workshop – How to Choose a Candidate

Prior to the Huntington, NY Meet the Candidates Night, the League of Women Voters of Huntington will conduct a Take Action Workshop from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and also prior to the event at Harborfields Public Library. Learn from the League how to weigh campaign news and research information to decide which candidate will best represent you on the issues that are important to you. Consistent with the League’s nonpartisan policy, no aspect of the training will support or oppose a candidate for office or a political party. Seating is limited but registration is open to everyone.

For more information about the Meet the Candidates Night or to register for the Take Action Workshop, please contact Colette Knuth, President, League of Women Voters of Huntington at LWVHuntingtonNY@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 10

  • 7:00pm – LWV Huntington: Meet the Candidates – NY STATE
  • 7:00pm – LWV Nassau Candidate Forum: General Election NY Assembly and Senate

Thursday, October 11

  • 7:00pm – LWV East Nassau: Meet the Candidates for NY Senate and Assembly

Monday, October 15

  • 7:00pm – LWV/American Association Pediatrics Children’s Policy Candidate Forum Senate District 5

Thursday, October 18

  • 6:30pm – Putnam County Meet the Candidates – General Election
  • 7:00pm – LWV Port Washington-Manhasset Candidate Forum
  • 7:00pm – LWV Cazenovia: Candidate Forum State Senate 53 & Assembly 121
  • 7:00pm – LWV Saratoga – Meet the Candidates Congressional District 18

Monday, October 22

  • 6:30pm – Putnam County Meet the Candidates – General Election
  • 7:00pm – LWV East Nassau: Candidates Night for Congressional District 2
  • 7:00pm – LWV Huntington: Meet the Candidates Huntington Township
  • 7:00pm – LWV Long Beach: Candidate Forum for Assembly District 20 and Senate District 9

Tuesday, October 23

  • 7:00pm – LWV Schenectady – Candidates Night for County Clerk and Village Seats
  • 7:00pm – LWV White Plains: Candidate Forums Assembly District 93
  • 7:00pm – Chautauqua County Meet the Candidates – Assembly and County Sheriff
  • 7:00pm – LWV Nassau Candidate Forum: General Election Candidates for Assembly and Senate

Wednesday, October 24

  • 7:00pm – LWV/Huntington Meet the Candidates Night – State and Local General Election

Thursday, October 25

  • 7:00pm – LWV/Huntington: Meet the Candidates US Congressional

Sunday, October 28

  • 2:00pm – LWV Rockland County: Candidate Debates 38th Senate District, 97 and 98 Assembly Districts

Monday, October 29

  • 7:00pm – LWV Schenectady & Saratoga – Candidates Night NY Senate District 49

Tuesday, October 30

  • 7:00pm – LWV of Capital Region – Candidate Night for Congressional District 20
  • 7:00pm – Chautauqua Meet the Candidates Nights – Assembly and County Sheriff

Thursday, November 1

  • 8:00pm – LWV Broome Tioga – Candidate Debate Congressional District 22
Join Us
Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

Gun Facts

April 2018

1In 2015 the Washington Post cited studies estimating that there were 357 million guns in the United States, 40 million more than the number of people

2There are roughly twice the number of guns per capita in the United States today than in 1968 (Congressional Research Center)

3From 1982 to 2011 mass shootings occurred at the rate of one every 200 days. Since late 2011 that rate has tripled to one every 64 days (Harvard School of Public Health)

4In 2016 the US had 8 times the gun death rate as Canada (NPR)

5For every time a gun was used in self-defense or for a legally justified reason, there were
4 unintentional shootings,
7 assaults or homicides and
11 attempted or completed suicides (Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology)

6Firearms are used in the majority of US homicides. Comparative rates of guns used in homicides for three countries:
US – 64%
Canada – 8%
England – 4.5% (BBC News)

7Among children, 89% of unintentional shootings occurred in the home, usually because a child was playing with a gun (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

8In 2014, 4300 young people between the ages of 10 and 24 were victims of gun related homicide (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

9Suicide attempts by firearms are 90% effective as opposed to 34% for jumping and 2% for drug overdoses. 90% of suicide attempt survivors do not go on to die of suicide (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

10According to the CDC, suicide by firearm accounted for ⅔ of gun related deaths in 2016

11People who report “firearms access” are at twice the risk of homicide and three times the risk of suicide (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)

12According to the US General Accounting Office, 31% of accidental deaths could be prevented by just two implements: childproof locks and loading indicators

139 mm handgun bullets travel at 1200 ft/second and have a kinetic energy of 400 ft/lbs. The AR-15 bullet travels at 3251 ft/second and has a kinetic velocity of 1300 ft/lbs. The AR-15 is designed to allow 30 or more bullets to feed without reloading and kill as many people as possible in the shortest time frame possible (NBC News)

14A handgun bullet will damage tissue and organs within its direct path but ammunition in military grade weapons, due to cavitation related to speed and bullet mass, will damage a wide range of surrounding tissue causing catastrophic damage to the body

Join Us
Doctors 4 Gun Safety logo

JOIN AS A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

We welcome any physician, physician-in-training, or healthcare professional in the U.S. who shares our beliefs and wishes to help us work toward gun safety and responsible gun ownership.

JOIN AS A FRIEND

Not a medical professional? We absolutely welcome your support!
Join us here, and we’ll keep you posted on all our news and updates.

  • Privacy Policy Consent
Go to Top