Seven types of gun policy are classified in an outline: 1) Policy related to the manufacture of guns; 2) Policy related to the sale of guns; 3) Regulation of the marketing and advertising of guns; 4) Policy related to the possession of guns; 5) Policy related to the use of guns; 6) Regulation of importation of guns; and 7) Regulation of the manufacture, sale, and possession of ammunition. The recently passed Brady Bill, which imposes a 5-day waiting period on the purchase of handguns, exemplifies a policy shift away from attempting to regulate the use and possession of guns, and toward regulating the manufacture, sale, and marketing of the product. This approach toward injury prevention is consistent with those applied to other public health issues such as motor vehicle safety, and should maximize society's ability to reduce the toll of firearm violence. Outline, 27 references