WASHINGTON — Following is a statement by Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, regarding the shooting in Boulder, Colorado, that left 10 people dead, one week after a deadly mass shooting in the Atlanta area:
“The American Psychological Association is appalled to see yet another high-profile mass shooting in our nation—this one at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado—just a week after a gunman opened fire at three Atlanta-area spas. While information is still coming to light about the shooter and the victims in Colorado, we do know that the suspect in the Georgia shootings had obtained the gun in question the same day as he allegedly killed eight people.
“And these were not the only mass shootings in the U.S. in the past seven days. Five others that received less national publicity occurred in California, Texas, Pennsylvania and Oregon.
“Gun violence is a public health crisis in America, and guns are associated with far too many deaths in our country, including 50% to 60% of suicides. APA has long advocated for gun safety, including background checks of prospective gun buyers, safe gun storage, laws implementing extreme risk protection orders and more research into the psychological factors that lead to gun violence. APA calls on Congress and the states to step up now and pass legislation to help stem the spread of firearms, promote their safe usage and storage and establish community-based teams that include police, mental health educators and community advocates who can deal with individuals in crisis who are at risk of using guns to harm themselves or others.”