Firearm violence has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and is considered to be a public health emergency since it accounts for 20 percent of all injury deaths. Firearm injuries imposed an estimated $19 billion economic burden in 1990, in addition to direct health care costs. If firearm violence continues to increase, it is expected that the number of deaths from firearms will surpass the number of deaths caused by motor vehicles by the year 2003. The burden of firearm violence is felt disproportionately by young people. For example, homicide is the leading cause of death for young black men between 15 and 34 years of age and the second overall leading cause of death nationwide for persons between 15 and 24 years of age. Suicide rates for children and adolescents have more than doubled over the past 30 years, due primarily to the increased use of firearms. Stricter gun control laws are being passed by some States, but considerable variation exists in gun control legislation. The authors propose the following: implementing a national licensing system for firearms possession; limiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of military-style assault weapons; increasing the tax on firearms and ammunition; tightening Federal licensing requirements for gun dealers; limiting the number of guns an individual can buy; implementing a gun return program; developing a firearm fatality and injury reporting system; and educating the public about the dangers of guns. 1 figure