- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) removed its gun violence advisory webpage. A White House official told The Guardian that the removal aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order to safeguard the Second Amendment.
- The “Firearm Violence in America” webpage included data on the traumatic effects of shootings, gun-related suicides and the number of children and teens killed in such incidents.
- The link now displays a “page not found” error.
Full Story
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) removed a webpage from the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General that included an advisory from former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on gun violence as a public health issue.
Why did the Trump administration remove it?
A White House official told The Guardian that the removal aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order to safeguard Second Amendment rights.
What information was removed?
The “Firearm Violence in America” webpage, where Murthy’s 2024 advisory appeared, previously housed data and information on the traumatic effects of shootings, gun-related suicides and the number of children and teenagers killed in shootings.
The link now displays a “page not found” message.
How did different groups react to Murthy’s original message?
Gun control advocates welcomed Murthy’s June 2024 advisory, while Second Amendment rights groups criticized it. Some pro-gun rights advocates accused the Biden administration of using public health to push gun control measures.
A gun violence researcher at Rutgers, however, told The Guardian that the public health designation was to “bring the heat down” on a hot-button political issue so that gun violence prevention could be discussed in a meaningful way.
What’s the bigger picture?
The removal of Murthy’s advisory and other information from the page is part of thousands of pages of health data and research taken down from federal websites.
However, some of these pages are back online following a court order.
What has the White House said?
The White House released a statement after the webpage’s removal:
“Illegal gun violence of any sort is a crime issue, and as he again made clear during his recent speech at the Department of Justice, President Trump is committed to making America Safe Again by empowering law enforcement and upholding the law.”
How have gun violence prevention groups responded?
Gun violence prevention groups like GIFFORDS, which former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., founded, criticized the removal of the webpage.
“By removing this important health advisory with lifesaving resources, President Trump has chosen to prioritize gun industry profits over protecting kids and families,” said Emma Brown, the executive director of GIFFORDS.
What has the head of HHS said about gun violence?
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has stated that he believes in gun rights but wants to investigate the causes of mass shootings.
