The Trump administration has scrubbed an advisory on gun violence from the official web site of the Division of Well being and Human Providers. The important well being warning was issued in 2024 by then-Surgeon Normal Vivek Murthy, and the choice to bury it comes simply as the USA skilled its fiftieth mass taking pictures of the calendar 12 months to this point.
“By removing this important public health advisory with lifesaving resources, President Trump has chosen to prioritize gun industry profits over protecting kids and families,” Emma Brown, govt director of the gun violence prevention group GIFFORDS, mentioned in a launch.
Based on the Gun Violence Archive, the latest mass taking pictures occurred on March 15. 4 folks had been shot in that incident in Shreveport, Louisiana—together with two individuals who died. The archive has catalogued 2,899 gun deaths to this point in 2025. Of these, 246 had been youngsters ages 17 and beneath.
In 2024, there have been 503 mass shootings, with 16,725 gun deaths complete.
Unsurprisingly, the transfer appears tailor-made to appease the rabid gun foyer.
“HHS and the Office of the Surgeon General are complying with President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting Second Amendment Rights,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon informed CNN when requested concerning the choice to purge the advisory.
Trump’s govt order, launched Feb. 7, instructs the federal authorities to evaluate Biden administration actions and insurance policies that will “infringe” on Second Modification protections.
However the advisory in query doesn’t name for any rights to be curtailed, regardless of the administration’s rhetoric.
Noting the pervasiveness of gun violence within the nation, the advisory lays out a plan to cut back gun violence by treating it as a public well being difficulty.
“All Americans deserve to live their lives free from firearm violence, as well as from the fear and devastation that it brings,” Murthy mentioned in an announcement when the doc was first launched.
Eradicating the advisory is in line with the objectives of the far-right Undertaking 2025, the conservative challenge that laid out a roadmap for lots of the Trump administration’s actions. The plan known as for rolling again gun security actions taken beneath former President Joe Biden, which Trump falsely characterised as an “attack on gun owners and manufacturers” as he campaigned for the presidency.
Since he entered politics, Trump has benefitted from the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation’s monetary and ethical assist, even because the fanatical gun rights group has been uncovered for its corruption in a collection of scandals. The NRA endorsed Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024—and in alternate, Trump has steadfastly opposed gun security measures whereas in workplace.
Against this, Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the primary federal gun-related laws to enter impact in practically 30 years. The invoice supplied incentives for states to institute “red flag” legal guidelines stopping gun possession by folks deemed a menace to themselves or others, and expanded background checks for folks between age 18 and 21.
The general public repeatedly present majority assist for gun security regulation and gun violence prevention efforts. In Civiqs polling on the problem, 50% of respondents mentioned they favor gun management legal guidelines as of March 17. That sentiment has been mirrored by a plurality or majority for practically 10 years of polling.
Equally, in an April 2023 KFF ballot, a complete of 58% of adults mentioned they fear a couple of beloved one being a sufferer of gun violence daily, virtually daily, or typically.
Ignoring these issues and fears, the Trump administration continues to observe the NRA and Undertaking 2025’s most well-liked path—regardless of the continuing devastation to American life.
