Parkland. Sutherland Springs. Las Vegas. Orlando. Charleston. Aurora. Blacksburg. Newtown. Santa Fe. The definition of insanity is described as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. We should know. We are surgeons, and we witness insanity on a regular basis when we operate on the victims of gun violence. These deaths are avoidable, and yet our elected leaders refuse to act.
We are constantly reminded that all patients that we treat also represent a family who loves them, a community who has raised them, and a society that has failed to protect them. Commonsense gun legislation is not aimed at removing firearms from responsible, law-abiding Americans. Rather, commonsense gun policy is critical to prevent future senseless tragedies, to make our streets safer, and to finally remove one of the most unfortunate blemishes on our national character.