National gun safety campaign needed

One of the most successful government public health campaigns was the anti-smoking campaign which significantly decreased the number of smokers in this country by educating people about its heath consequences and removing the glamorous and cool image of smoking.

According to a 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, 32,163 people died from guns with 18,000 caused by suicides. These deaths should be addressed as a public health issue.

Nancy Lanza experienced every gun owner's worst nightmare by not only having her son commit suicide with her legally owned guns, but also using them to kill her and school children. These types of deaths can be prevented with not only changes in federal and state gun laws, but more importantly by implementing a television commercial campaign similar to the anti-smoking one that educates people about how to properly secure guns in their homes and teaching them about the dangers of owning guns.

We are talking about a gun safety movement that has mental health professions asking patients about their gun ownership and how they can better secure their guns or suggest the temporary removal of them to a friend or family member's home. We may not stop all gun deaths, but a national gun safety campaign can significantly reduce them.

Sue Nolan

Cedar Rapids