Vivek Murthy, head of the US federal health authority, declared gun violence in the country a public health crisis on Tuesday.
The number of dead and injured persons as a result of shootings has increased sharply in recent years. In 2022, more than 48,000 Americans died from gun-related injuries, according to the news agency AP.
Vivek Murthy states that there is a "broad consensus" that gun violence is a problem in the country, and refers to a survey showing that a large proportion of Americans are worried about shootings. He believes that the US, among other things, needs to ban automatic rifles and restrict the right to carry weapons to address the problem.
The statement from the authority head is controversial and has met resistance from, among others, organisations within the influential gun lobby.
