Internal Medicine Physicians Support Regulation of “Ghost Guns”

Statement attributable to:
George M. Abraham, MD, MPH, MACP, FIDSA
President, American College of Physicians

WASHINGTON, D.C. April 11, 2022 –The American College of Physicians (ACP) applauds the Biden administration’s issuing of final regulations to restrict the sale and distribution of “ghost guns". Firearms-related injuries and deaths are tragedies that can be prevented with common sense policies—like the increased regulation of “ghost guns". ACP previously commented that these regulations are critical step to stop the flow of untraceable weapons to individuals legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

ACP has long called attention to the public health threat posed by firearms violence and has called on policymakers to enact laws and regulations that would reduce firearms-related injuries and deaths. As physicians, we see the consequences of gun violence firsthand--inside and outside of the exam room, and we have a responsibility to our patients and the communities we serve to speak out and call for measures to mitigate this crisis.

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About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org