Handguns and homicide. A public health problem.

Homicide by handgun is a public health problem. No public health-oriented attempts at prevention have been made. A poll of physicians showed strong opinion (1) favoring more stringent controls on the availability of handguns and (2) supporting direct expression of opinion on this issue by physicians within the framework of organized medicine. Physicians can fulfill an obligation to their patients by formulating policy within organized medicine on the handgun issue.