Metro Mother Reacts To U.S. Surgeon General's Declaration On Gun Violence

The nation's top doctor recently declared gun violence a public health crisis. The U.S. Surgeon General said gun violence was a problem impacting all communities, including right here in the metro.

A local mother supported the Surgeon General’s public health crisis advisory. Stephanie Howard spoke up about gun violence in Oklahoma City.

Howard watched her son's killer leave the courtroom this week to serve a life sentence. 

“I’m just glad that the outcome was good,” said Stephanie Howard, who lost a son to gun violence. “Justice was served today.”

Howard lost her son 22-year-old Daniel Howard in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2023. He was shot and killed outside a Midtown bar. The convicted gunman also injured four others. 

“Anytime anyone shoots 10 rounds, bullets have no eyes,” said Howard. “He could have shot more people than the five he did shoot.”

Howard's family and friends joined the growing number of Americans who have experienced gun violence. The U.S. Surgeon General recently sent this message to the country.

“Firearm violence is a public health crisis,” said Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General. “Our failure to address it is a moral crisis.”

Doctor Vivek Murthy said more than half of U.S. adults have come in contact with some kind of gun violence. Firearms are killing children at an alarming rate.

“Firearm violence has become the number one cause of death among children and adolescents,” said Murthy. “More than car accidents or drug overdoses.”

Howard holds a support group for people who have lost loved ones to gun violence. She believes stricter laws on firearms and punishment for offenders are needed.

“They might think twice about pulling a gun on somebody,” said Howard.

The surgeon general has called for national and state leaders to ban automatic rifles, implement universal background checks, and regulate the gun industry.