Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has firmly stated that the state will not adhere to the recent advisory on gun violence issued by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. The advisory, which was announced earlier this week, labels gun violence as a public health crisis and outlines several policy recommendations aimed at curbing firearm-related deaths and injuries.
Dr. Murthy’s 39-page report, titled “Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis in America,” highlights the alarming rise in gun-related injuries and deaths, particularly among children and adolescents. According to the report, firearm injuries have become the leading cause of death for young people since 2020, surpassing motor vehicle crashes, cancer, drug overdoses, and poisoning.
The advisory calls for a range of policy changes, including universal background checks, expanding purchaser licensing laws, banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for civilian use, and creating safer conditions in public places related to firearm use and carry. However, these recommendations have been met with strong opposition from Governor DeSantis.
In a post on the social media platform X, DeSantis criticized the advisory, stating, “During COVID, unelected bureaucrats used ‘public health’ as a pretext to deprive citizens of their rights — and I signed legislation to protect Floridians from government overreach. Now, Biden’s Surgeon General is attempting to violate the Second Amendment through the ‘public health’ bureaucracy. We will not comply. Florida will always reject the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional power-grabs.”
The governor’s stance is consistent with his previous actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he resisted federal public health measures that he deemed overreaching. DeSantis has also been a vocal advocate for gun rights, signing legislation last year that allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. However, some Second Amendment advocates have criticized him for not pushing for an “open carry” law, despite his public support for it.
The advisory from Dr. Murthy comes at a time when the United States is grappling with a significant increase in firearm-related deaths. In 2022, 48,204 people in the U.S. died from firearm-related injuries, including suicides, homicides, and unintentional deaths. This figure represents an increase of 8,000 deaths compared to 2019 and more than 16,000 additional deaths since 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Murthy’s advisory also emphasizes the broader impact of firearm violence, noting that 54% of U.S. adults report that they or a family member have experienced a gun-related incident. He argues that the effects of gun violence extend beyond those directly involved, creating “wider ripples of harm” for people who witness the violence, live in affected communities, or read about it in the news.
“Firearm violence is a public health crisis,” Dr. Murthy said in his announcement. “Our failure to address it is a moral crisis.”
Despite the urgency conveyed in the advisory, the recommendations cannot be enforced by the Surgeon General alone. Implementing these measures nationwide would require legislation from Congress. While some state legislatures may consider Murthy’s proposals, DeSantis has made it clear that Florida will not be among them.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has also rejected the advisory, with Executive Director Randy Kozuch stating, “This is an extension of the Biden administration’s war on law-abiding gun owners. America has a crime problem caused by criminals. The reluctance to prosecute and punish criminals on the part of President Biden and many of his allies is the primary cause of that.”
The debate over gun control and public health is likely to continue, with strong opinions on both sides. For now, Florida remains steadfast in its refusal to comply with the federal advisory, setting the stage for ongoing conflict between state and federal authorities on this critical issue.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, The Hill
