Gun violence is a public health epidemic that can be prevented.

Federal, state and city leaders delivered that message during a press conference convened by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence on Wednesday.

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen joined U.S. Representatives Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersburger, John Sarbanes, and Chris Van Hollen, along with Baltimore City Police Commissioner Davis and community advocates to discuss the historic Congressional sit-in and called for action to prevent future gun violence.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns kill more than 30,000 people each year in the U.S. In 2015, 300 of the 344 homicides in Baltimore City were due to gun violence. U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings said he constantly sees evidence of recent homicides around his neighborhood in Baltimore, signified by fresh balloons and “RIP” signs on street corners.

“Doctors across the country have spoken up on what science shows us to be true: gun violence is a disease,” said Dr. Wen. “It is a public health crisis. It is an epidemic.”

The public health approach to fighting gun violence emphasizes collective action. For example, in 2015, Baltimore’s Safe Streets program mediated 700 conflicts, approximately 80 percent of which were deemed “likely” or “very likely” to result in gun violence. And as over half of shooters in mass shootings obtained their weapons legally, city and state leaders turn to common sense restrictions on gun ownership to safeguard communities and save lives.

“As an ER doctor and as Baltimore City’s doctor, I have something to say to our elected representatives in Congress,” said Dr. Wen. “If you send me patients who are shot, I will treat them, but you and your colleagues have the ability prevent the bullets in the first place.”