Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda recently published an article entitled "American Academy of Nursing on policy: Recommendations in response to mass shootings" in Nursing Outlook. Co-authors include experts from the American Academy of Nursing Violence Expert Panel. 

When Americans gather in public places, schools, work, places of worship, and at home, they should feel safe and not afraid. The recent massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 individuals were murdered, has led to a public outcry for action by policymakers to address mass shootings. This call to action is similar to those made in response to the mass shootings in Columbine, Sandy Hook, Orlando, and Las Vegas, making a case for a lack of progress and apathy in addressing mass shootings. With the leadership and guidance from the Expert Panel on Violence, the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) calls for a public health approach to address mass shootings, including distinguishing key factors that contribute to mass shootings and identifying actionable solutions. The Academy also calls for the establishment of a nonpartisan National Commission on Mass Shootings, the funding for gun violence research, and the development and monitoring of policies to ensure gun safety, including restricting access to firearms by those known to pose a danger to others. Lastly, we call for support for programs and policies that identify and respond to individual, family, and community risk factors for mass shootings—intimate partner violence (IPV), toxic stress, bullying, and mental health problems—and address missed opportunities for individuals and systems to prevent this type of violence.