(WHTM) — Health professionals from across Pennsylvania gathered at the state capitol to announce a new coalition that addresses gun violence.

The Pa Health Professionals To End Gun Violence says easy access to firearms is the main reason for it in the Commonwealth. The coalition has more than 250 members.

They’re calling for life-saving pieces of gun violence prevention legislation, some of which have already passed the House.

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Those who spoke say it’s a public health issue, not a political issue.

“As a surgeon, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating physical effects the gunshots can have inflicted on a child’s body,” Pediatric Trauma Surgeon Dr. Shawn Safford said. “A bullet is not just a small piece of metal. It’s a destructive force that shatters bone, tear tissue and disrupts vital organs. A single bullet can cause multiple injuries, each of which can be life-threatening.”

In June, the U.S. Surgeon general declared gun violence a public health crisis.

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