Preventing Gun Violence: The Role of Social Work

The United States presently has both the highest rates of gun violence and the highest per capita rate of gun ownership in the developed world. The widespread availability and the accessibility of guns-and their uniquely lethal risks-make gun violence a devastating national problem. Given that social workers deliver services in many settings where clients face high risk of gun violence victimization and perpetration, social work professional values, commitments, and perspectives afford a special responsibility and opportunity to work to reduce gun violence in the United States. In this article, authors overview the problem of gun violence in the United States and its legal backdrop, and then highlight some of the emerging knowledge regarding how social workers can assess and intervene to prevent gun violence to save lives, promote physical and mental well-being, advance social equity, and strengthen communities.