PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Tolat, Nicholas Darshan AU - Naik-Mathuria, Bindi Jayendra AU - McGuire, Amy Lynn TI - Physician Involvement in Promoting Gun Safety AID - 10.1370/afm.2516 DP - 2020 May 01 TA - The Annals of Family Medicine PG - 262--264 VI - 18 IP - 3 4099 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/18/3/262.short 4100 - http://www.annfammed.org/content/18/3/262.full SO - Ann Fam Med2020 May 01; 18 AB - Firearm-related deaths are on the rise in the United States, especially among our youth. Tragically, proper firearm storage and safety could have prevented a great number of these deaths. Professional and public health organizations have thus encouraged physicians to provide direct patient counseling on firearm safety. Yet, even with these recommendations, the majority of physicians are still not talking to their patients about this issue. There may be many reasons for this, including concerns about liability, feeling unprepared, patient discomfort, and lack of time during office visits. Despite these concerns, we argue that physicians have an ethical obligation to discuss firearm safety with their patients. Making these discussions a part of routine clinical care would go a long way in the bipartisan effort to protect public safety and improve public health.