APHA spoke out against this week’s mass shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, calling it “an act of senseless violence.”

More than 20 people were injured and one was killed at a Feb. 14 event celebrating the city's recent Super Bowl win. That same day, four high school students were shot outside their school in metropolitan Atlanta and three police officers were shot in Washington, D.C., as they served a warrant for animal cruelty. 

In a Feb. 15 statement, APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, MD, shared condolences with the shooting victims and their families, but noted “this is not enough.”

“APHA calls on Congress to take up legislation to require universal background checks for all firearm purchases in the U.S., prohibit the sale of certain assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines and to pass legislation that allows the removal of firearms from those deemed potentially harmful to themselves or others through the issuance of extreme risk protection orders,” he said. “APHA believes we cannot wait any longer.” 

Read the full statement online now.