Gun violence has officially been declared a public health crisis by the United States surgeon general, and state Assemblyman Charles Lavine is backing the designation.

“I could not agree more with this action which comes as we near the end of a month in which we’re supposed to raise awareness about gun violence,” Lavine wrote in a statement. “The reality, of course, is that we need no such reminders. All one needs to do is read, watch, or listen to any form of news and it won’t be long before we’re made aware of some senseless tragedy involving guns.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced the landmark designation on Tuesday, the first of its kind in history. He said firearm violence is an “urgent threat” to the “health and well-being of our country.”

“Firearm violence is a public health crisis. Our failure to address it is a moral crisis,” Murthy said in a video. “To protect the health and well-being of Americans, especially our children, we must now act with the clarity, courage and urgency that this moment demands.”

The advisory outlines methods to address gun violence, including prevention programs, greater mental health care for those exposed to or at risk for firearm violence and more research funding for prevention strategies.

It also outlines risk prevention strategies such as banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines for citizen use and universal background checks.

“As a doctor, I’ve seen the consequences of firearm violence up close and the lives of the patients that cared for over the years. These are moms and dads, sons and daughters, all of whom were robbed of their physical and mental health by senseless acts of violence,” Murthy said. “Unfortunately, the problem has continued to grow.”

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged one to 19 since 2020, according to the surgeon general. More children die from gun violence than in car accidents, from drug overdoses and cancer.

In 2022, 48,204 people died from gun-related incidents. Which includes suicides, homicides and accidental deaths, according to the surgeon general.

“There really should not need to be a specified time to remind us we must do all we can to end the scourge of gun violence here in America,” Lavine wrote. “However, the staggering number of incidents along with (and caused by) the proliferation and accessibility of guns – combined with those willing to turn a blind eye to this – make it a necessity.”

Murthy added that about 54% of adults have experienced or know a family member who has experienced a firearm-related incident.

These incidents also disproportionately affect different communities, Murthy said, including Black communities, Veterans, older white individuals and younger American Indian or Alaska Native people.

Murthy said that gun violence has “wider ripples of harm” throughout communities as people are victimized by violence, witness it in their communities or continuously read about it.

“Our children should not have to live in fear that they are going to get shot if they go to school,” Murthy said. “None of us should have to worry that going to the mall or concert, or house of worship means putting our lives at risk, or that we’ll get a call that a loved one in a moment of crisis has taken their own life with a firearm.”

Lavine touted New York State’s efforts to thwart gun violence before this public health crisis designation.

Initiatives include Gov. Kathy Hochul signing the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act, which bans the sale and possession of ghost guns – or guns assembled by individuals and not by a manufacturer.

The legislation was named after Scott Beigel, who was a teacher killed while protecting his students during the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. Lavine sponsored the bill in the assembly.

“It is intended, just as Scott intended, to save lives,” Lavine wrote.