[News Terms] US 'Surgeon General' Urges Strong Gun Control Measures

Commander Vivek Murthy, Vice Admiral of the U.S. Paramilitary Organization PHSCC
Leading under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, caring for civilians
Surgeon General Murthy: "Gun violence is a public health crisis"

The United States 'Surgeon General,' known as the 'nation's doctor' to Americans, has declared gun violence a public health crisis and is urging strong regulations through related legislation.

The title 'Surgeon General' exists in the United States, Commonwealth countries, and some NATO nations, primarily referring to the highest-ranking medical officer or medical official. In the U.S., it refers to the head of the quasi-military organization, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy currently serves as both the head of the PHSCC and the Surgeon General.

Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General.
[Photo by PHSCC website]

He is an Indian-American born in Huddersfield, England, to parents who immigrated from Karnataka, India, in 1977. When he was three years old, his family moved to Miami, Florida, USA. He graduated from Harvard University and earned a master's degree from Yale School of Medicine. He served as Surgeon General under President Barack Obama starting in December 2013, stepped down in April 2017 when the Donald Trump administration took office, and was reappointed under the Joe Biden administration, currently serving in the role.

The U.S. uniformed services include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, and the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). This organization is separate from military medical officers, is composed entirely of officers, wears Navy uniforms, but is not military and serves the general public.

It provides public health services to Native Americans and Alaska Natives who have difficulty accessing general public healthcare, handles disaster prevention and response, and manages national mental health. Its duties are somewhat similar to those of public health centers in Korea.

The federal Public Health Service was founded in 1798 with the Navy Hospital Fund. It was renamed the Navy Hospital Service in 1871. As it grew, it merged with Army medical facilities under the command of the Surgeon General. It operates under the Department of Health and Human Services, not the Department of Defense.

According to major U.S. media outlets such as the Associated Press, Surgeon General Murthy stated in a recommendation released on the 25th (local time), "Since 2020, gun violence has surpassed car accidents as the leading cause of death among children and adolescents," and declared, "Gun violence should be considered a public health crisis."

Murthy, who has significant influence on the U.S. public health agenda, said, "As a physician, I have witnessed up close people losing their physical and mental health due to indiscriminate acts of violence," emphasizing to policymakers the need for strong legal safeguards to reduce gun deaths.

He recommended establishing a 'universal background check' system without exceptions, banning the depiction of firearms as assault weapons, maintaining a safe storage distance from children, and compliance with locking mechanisms.

The universal background check essentially requires that firearms be purchased only through dealers who can conduct background checks. The American Academy of Pediatrics noted on its website, "Background checks are mandatory for all firearm purchases, but only about 40% of sales go through licensed dealers who conduct these checks," pointing out that purchases at gun shows or private sales remain regulatory blind spots.

Surgeon General Murthy stressed, "Gun violence can cause mental health problems not only for those who are shot but also for their families, friends, and healthcare providers," and emphasized, "Firearms should be included among items regulated by safety standards, like automobiles and pesticides."

The related report presented by Surgeon General Murthy showed that as of 2019, the firearm-related death rate among Americans under 19 was more than five times that of Canada, 18 times that of Sweden, and over 22 times that of Australia.