A Duke Health Statement on Recent Gun Violence
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The horrifying toll of gun violence throughout the nation, state and our community is shocking and deeply disturbing. We at Duke Health grieve for the victims of the recent shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde and now Tulsa, and are also saddened by the painful loss of hundreds of others in our local communities whose lives have been cut short in a senseless epidemic of violence.
As members of the health care community, we are too often at the front lines of these tragedies and see first-hand the physical and emotional devastation that is caused by gun violence.
While solutions are as complex as the problem, Duke Health is committed to partnering with groups in Durham and surrounding communities to seek ways of reducing gun violence:
- A committee was formed earlier this year to explore how, in coordination with community organizations, our hospitals can provide support and services for victims of gun violence. The initiative aims to launch interventions as soon as possible.
- A violence intervention program will begin this summer that will work with families to identify root causes of violence as a way to prevent future incidents.
- A gun safety program is also active, with the goal of preventing accidental shootings.
We are also planning to show our solidarity with others throughout the nation by wearing orange on Friday, signifying our commitment to a more peaceful and safe community through advocacy, partnership with our community, and active prevention of gun violence.
We encourage everyone to look for opportunities to be part of the solutions to reduce this epidemic.