Under the Gun

A doctors firsthand account of the devastating impacts of gun violence—and how we can end this epidemic.



Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and has decreased the lifespan of American adults by 2.5 years. In 2021, more than forty-eight thousand people were killed by guns in the United States. Nearly twice as many were injured. But beyond these statistics are the untold stories of doctors and health care workers who work to save the lives of victims of gun violence.

In this powerful and moving book, Cedric Dark takes readers into the harrowing experiences of these physicians. Dark intertwines these stories with an examination of policies that could save countless lives. Combining research, an examination of gun culture, and an exploration of policy options, Under the Gun equips readers with a new understanding of the data and stories needed to confront and persuade politicians to better protect the health and safety of Americans.

As an emergency room doctor whose own family has been affected by gun violence, Dark intimately understands how gun violence can destroy lives and communities. He reflects on the events that bring people to the ER while also talking to doctors who not only treat victims of gun violence but also own guns themselves. Under the Gun is a powerful meditation on this uniquely American epidemic and an urgent call to action toward a balanced gun policy in the United States.