“The American Public Health Association today expresses its deepest sympathy for the families of the victims of today’s tragic shootings at Virginia Tech University. This tragedy and others like it underscore the need to recognize and address the public health consequences of firearm violence.
“We again offer our condolences to the families of the victims of this unconscionable act.”
Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions.