As a pediatric palliative-care doctor, I routinely provide medical care for children who die. In the past 20 years, I have witnessed countless devastating, heartbreaking losses. In my experience, there are few tragedies as horrifying and unbearable as those that could have been prevented.

For the third consecutive year in a row, the No. 1 cause of death for American children and teens is gunshot wounds. More than car accidents, more than cancer — our kids are dying from guns.

Tennessee is one of the most dangerous states in the nation for gun violence. Guns are the leading cause of death for children in Tennessee with a rate of childhood gun deaths 36% higher than the national average. Each year, about 5,000 people are killed or wounded by a gun in Tennessee, and Shelby County registers the highest number of firearm deaths in the state.

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In October, our medical community grieved the excruciating, senseless murder of 22-year-old medical student Ellie Young who reportedly was executed at close range at Shelby Farms Park. Her death, allegedly at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, should fill us with despair and outrage.

And so should the deaths of hundreds of other people across our city, many of whose names and stories rarely reach us amid the noise. We’ve become resigned and numb to an egregious status quo in which a human being dies from a firearm injury nearly every day in Shelby County. These lives are precious and irreplaceable. We have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies.

On Election Day this year, citizens of Memphis overwhelmingly supported gun safety reforms in three referendums on the ballot. More than 80% of voters backed each referendum, which proposed that gun owners carry a valid permit, required guns to be hidden and locked if they are stored in unattended vehicles, prohibited carrying assault rifles on public property and allowed law enforcement to remove a gun from someone with a high risk of causing harm to themselves or others.

Every responsible gun owner should support these safety laws. None of the proposals take handguns away from peaceful, law-abiding citizens. Anyone with a valid permit could still possess and use an assault rifle on privately owned property or at a shooting range.

Research has repeatedly shown decreasing unsafe and illegal access to guns can save lives.

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These referendums demonstrate that most Memphians believe this scientific evidence and want to take action to prevent needless deaths.

Importantly, all three gun-safety referendums received bipartisan support. For reference, barely 60% of ballots in Memphis were cast for the Democratic ticket while 80% or more voted in favor of gun-safety laws.

Unfortunately, Memphians’ call to action for gun-safety reform is blocked by state-level laws. While our City Council can approve an ordinance to create a “trigger law” for Memphis, this local law cannot go into effect unless the Tennessee Legislature either repeals or amends an existing state law that prevents city councils from implementing any form of gun regulation.

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Representatives in the state Legislature have already verbalized their disdain for the Memphis referendums, refusing to meet with City Council members to discuss next steps. It is deeply ironic and painful that the will of the people of Memphis, the very people at highest risk for injury or death by gun violence in our state, is so easily disrespected and disregarded by the state leaders tasked with overseeing our safety and well-being.

I urge Memphians to raise our voices and demand the will of the people be heard. Call your state representative and ask them to grant our city a carve-out exception to the state law, enabling Memphis to enact gun-safety laws to better protect our communities.

We have an opportunity to decrease preventable gun deaths in Memphis. Please act as if the lives of our children depend on it because they do.