FAH President and CEO Chip Kahn released the following statement regarding shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas:

“Words cannot begin to describe the feelings of sadness and despair we feel with yet another shooting massacre at one of our nation’s schools. The loss of young children and their teachers is simply heartbreaking and incomprehensible. Together with every American we pray for the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.“

But words and feeling aren’t sufficient, it is time for action. Alongside other leading health care, medical, and public health organizations, we urge lawmakers to meet this moment. One simple step forward is providing funding to vital hospital violence intervention programs, which are an important component of any comprehensive strategy to apply proven public health solutions to this public health epidemic.

“As the nation grieves with those in Uvalde and the many other communities impacted by mass shootings, hospitals want to do our part to stop the cycle of gun violence and ensure that what happened in Texas isn’t the latest tragedy – but the last tragedy.”