Planned Parenthood: Gun Violence Prevention is a Public Health Issue

Planned Parenthood Stands with the Young Advocates Leading the March for Our Lives

WASHINGTON D.C. - Planned Parenthood stands with the young advocates attending March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., and satellite marches across the country, as well as the many advocates fighting within their communities for action on gun violence prevention. Policymakers must address gun violence and the various ways it puts marginalized groups — including people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, and women — at risk.

Statement from Cecile Richards, President, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

Gun violence in all its forms – from mass shootings to intimate partner violence to overzealous and brutal policing – is a public health epidemic that threatens the health and safety of our communities. As a community-based health care provider, Planned Parenthood serves people who are disproportionately affected by gun violence. Planned Parenthood stands with the advocates mobilizing the nation around gun violence prevention and is proud to support the leadership of young people organizing around this important issue. We’re calling on policymakers to listen to these advocates, support gun violence prevention research, and take informed action to protect our communities. Everyone deserves to lead a life that is healthy and free from violence.

Planned Parenthood provides our network of young supporters with education and training on organizing and mobilization through several programs including I Defy, a digital youth engagement campaign; PP Generation Action, our network of more than 300 campus chapters; and our Teen Peer Educator programs. As we develop and train our supporters to become the next generation of leaders, we continue to encourage them to fight for a variety of interconnected issues that affect our patients and our communities, including reproductive health, gun violence prevention, LGBTQ rights, immigration, and racial justice.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.