Violence is a public health issue that impacts the well-being of communities everywhere. In the United States, more than 30 000 deaths per year are attributed to firearms and the homicide rate in America is 7 times the rate in other high-income nations. In cities such as Baltimore, violent deaths are climbing even as population declines. In 2015, Baltimore recorded 344 homicides, its deadliest year on record. However, declaring that violence influences the health of Americans remains a controversial topic. In this editorial, “Violence Is a Public Health Issue” by Dr. Leana Wen et al was published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Public Health Management & Practice.

Johanzynn Gatewood, BS, is an MPH candidate at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Her interests include health communication, the role of social media in public health, health literacy, and minority health. [Full bio].