The Kaiser Permanente Center for Gun Violence Research and Education asked researchers, community leaders, and frontline violence prevention professionals, “Why is gun violence a public health issue, and why does this matter?” Their responses shine a light on the causes of gun violence, its disproportionate impact on communities of color, and the health-focused strategies that can solve this crisis.

This video features Dr. Julie Richards, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute. “Gun violence is a public health issue because it's the number one way that children and young adults are currently dying. It's also the number one way that people die by suicide,” says Dr. Richards.