The gun control debate after the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., has largely faded since a congressional vote on expanded background checks failed.

But in a new GHN Commentary, Dr. Bob Wiskind, an Atlanta pediatrician, argues that reducing the prevalence of guns and children’s access to them will save lives.

“A gun kept in the home triples the risk of homicide and increases the risk of suicide by five times,’’ says Wiskind, who is president of the Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Here is a link to his Commentary.

Georgia Health News welcomes Commentary submissions. If you would like to propose a Commentary piece for Georgia Health News, please email Andy Miller, editor of GHN, at amiller@georgiahealthnews.com