The National Rifle Association (NRA) tweeted November 7, 2018, that physicians should “stay in their lane,” indicating their voices in gun legislation is irrelevant. The NRA was “[upset]…the medical community…consulted NO ONE but themselves” in research e-published ahead of print in the American College of Physicians’s Annals of Internal Medicine. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to start a revolution (against you), that’s how. [Hat tip to the NRA for organizing some of the most knowledgeable, selfless, and respected people on the planet in less than 280 characters.]

Read the original Twitter thread to see what advocacy via social media looks like while also building immense gratitude for physicians and the healthcare community. It’s phenomenal. It’s still growing, and it’s birthed the #ThisIsOurLane and #ThisIsMyLane hashtags as well as an open letter to the NRA from American healthcare professionals. I invite you to join me in signing that letter.

Indeed, four of the nine October 30, 2018, Annals of Internal Medicine articles e-published ahead of print are related to gun violence research and evidence. All four articles are open-access (Thank you, Annals!):

• “Reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the United States: A position paper from the American College of Physicians”
• “Expanding the public health approach to gun violence prevention”
•  “What can I do as a physician to prevent firearm injury?”
• “Public perceptions of firearm – and non-firearm – related violent death in the United States: A national study”

Approximately six hours after NRA’s tweet, the U.S. experienced its 307th mass shooting in 2018, at the Thousand Oaks, California, Borderline Bar and Grill. According to the Gun Violence Archive, it was America’s 307th mass shooting in 311 days. The Centers for Disease Control’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published the same week, indicated firearm homicides and suicides are on the rise.

Let me be clear.

I believe in the Second Amendment.

I believe in life.

We tend to think NRA is bigger than it really is. According to Pew Research, about 70% of Americans say they’ve fired a gun, and approximately 40% indicate owning a gun or living in a home with a gun. Yet, only 19% of gun owners are a part of the NRA. So, in one sense, NRA’s tweet could be seen as grappling for exposure… “There’s no such thing as bad PR,” right?

Whatever the case, imagine what could happen if the NRA was willing to collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure gun safety in our nation. Responsible gun legislation isn’t infringing on the Second Amendment; it’s bolstering it while caring for people. And, it is something the NRA once advocated for, as well. That NRA is long gone. While the NRA may not think healthcare professionals or science [gasp] have seats at the gun legislation table, healthcare professionals say otherwise as they move ahead, owning the lane, undeterred.