Firearm Injury Prevention and Safety

Aligning the work of researchers, health care professionals and community violence prevention groups is crucial to reduce the occurrence of firearm injury and death in the greater Houston area. On a national scale, firearms have surpassed motor vehicles as a leading cause of death among children. As Texas typically faces political gridlock on firearm-related topics, focusing on defining the areas most affected by firearm violence and disseminating materials to promote safe firearm storage practices are the first steps to improving this public health crisis. The Firearm Injury Prevention and Safety (FIPS) program is an initiative of the Center for Health Policy that aims to reduce and prevent firearm injury and death in Houston and the United States by developing effective policy intervention through research, policy analysis and collaboration.