The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has removed a controversial advisory from its website that had classified gun violence as a public health emergency. The advisory, issued by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in June 2024, was taken down in accordance with President Trump’s February 7th executive order focused on protecting Second Amendment rights.
HHS Deputy Press Secretary Emily G. Hilliard confirmed the removal was directly linked to compliance with Trump’s executive order on Second Amendment protections. The decision has received strong support from gun rights advocates while drawing criticism from gun control proponents.
Gun Owners of America’s senior vice president, Erich Pratt, praised the removal, arguing that Murthy’s appointment under the Biden administration was largely motivated by his stance on gun control. Pratt suggested that the previous administration had attempted to circumvent constitutional protections through health policy. He emphasized that the real focus should be on addressing crime rather than treating gun ownership as a health issue, particularly
criticizing Democratic-led cities’ approaches to criminal justice.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Alan Gottlieb, who chairs the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He
characterized the original advisory as an ineffective symbolic gesture that failed to address either crime reduction or suicide prevention, stating that gun ownership should not be classified as a communicable disease.
The removal has faced opposition from gun control organizations, including Giffords, founded by former Representative Gabrielle Giffords. The organization’s Executive Director, Emma Brown, criticized the decision, citing statistics showing firearms as the leading cause of death among American children and adolescents since 2020. Brown argued that the removal prioritized gun industry interests over public safety.
The original advisory had called for addressing firearm-related violent crime through a public health lens. Murthy, drawing from his medical background, had characterized the issue as a “moral crisis” requiring immediate action. Surgeon General advisories traditionally highlight urgent public health concerns, with one of the most notable being the 1964 tobacco report that led to cigarette warning labels.
The removal of the advisory is part of a broader review of Biden-era policies ordered by President Trump. The February 7th executive order, titled “Protecting Second Amendment Rights,” mandated Attorney General Pam Bondi to conduct a comprehensive 30-day review of all executive department and agency actions that might infringe upon Second Amendment rights. The order required the Attorney General to present findings and recommendations to the President through the Domestic Policy Advisor.
This move represents a significant shift in how gun violence is officially characterized at the federal level, moving away from its classification as a public health issue and reinforcing its treatment as a criminal justice matter. The change highlights the ongoing debate between public health approaches to gun violence and traditional law enforcement strategies, reflecting broader political divisions over gun policy in America.