WASHINGTON -- In response to the high school shooting today in Santa Fe, Texas, Dr. Paul Kivela, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) issued the following statement:

"On behalf of the nation's emergency physicians, I want to express our heartfelt sympathy to the victims of today's mass school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas where there were multiple fatalities and additional injuries.

"Students should be able to go to school feeling as safe as possible and never having to worry that their lives may be in danger. Sadly, the reality is - as we've learned today and from several other recent incidents - that is increasingly not always the case.

"Emergency physicians are dedicated to saving the lives of others and working to prevent incidents like these from happening again. It's time for all of us to make serious progress on gun injury prevention.

"ACEP continues to call for restrictions on the sale and ownership of weapons, munitions, and large-capacity magazines designed for military or law enforcement use. In addition, ACEP has called for increased access to mental health services, expanded background checks, adequate support and training for the disaster response system, as well as increased funding for firearm safety and injury prevention research."

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.