Physician Group Opposes Plan to Treat Gun Crime as a Public Health Problem

Dr. Robert Young says the ability to decide whether to engage in violence differentiates crime from disease when it comes to setting public health strategies.

Gun safety advocates rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in the Second Amendment case NY State Rifle & Pistol v. City of New York, N.Y., in Washington, on Dec. 2, 2019. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Doctors Megan Ranney and Robert Young think that gun crime is a problem, but they can’t agree on a solution.

As physicians, they have both dealt with grievous gunshot wounds. They’ve seen families and communities devastated by criminals with guns. They agree that more can and should be done.