State health care systems declare gun violence a public health emergency

“What we are seeing is alarming numbers in healthcare, in particular, across our local community, state and nation, that shows trauma levels going up year over year,” said Jennifer DeCubellis, CEO of Hennepin Healthcare. “At Hennepin Healthcare, as both a level one trauma center for adults and pediatrics, we have seen over a 50% increase in the past two years, in penetrating trauma which includes gunshot wounds, stabbings, self-inflicted, but it’s an alarming trend, and it’s not a blip in time, it really is a trend.”