US gun killings are a public health problem

What happened in Uvalde, Texas was the slaughter of children. When I heard the news, I first thought about those families who had lost their children. Then I thought about what we, as trauma surgeons and healthcare professionals, have to do every day in cities all across America: to try and explain to mums and dads why their child is never coming home again.

At the age of 17, I, too, was shot in the throat and nearly killed. So when I heard about Uvalde, I thought of my own family and what they must have gone through when the surgeon walked out to tell them their son had been shot.

There are trauma surgeons in this country delivering such devastating news to families every day. And this is unacceptable.

This is not a Democratic problem. This is not a Republican problem.

This is an American problem – a uniquely American public health problem.

Trauma surgeon and advocate for gun violence prevention Dr Joseph V Sakran explains why he believes those staying silent on the issue of gun law reform after the Uvalde school massacre are complicit.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.