Robin Abcarian: The surgeon general acknowledged America's gun violence emergency. Here's why that matters

Hey, cheer up: The news is not all bad.

The federal government acknowledged for the first time last week that gun violence is an urgent public health crisis.

You already knew that, of course. We all knew it. But thanks to the gun lobby's stranglehold on our political class, it's been nearly impossible to focus the federal government's attention — and money — on this shameful and uniquely American problem.

That's why the "Surgeon General's Advisory on Firearm Violence" is so encouraging.

In fed-speak, an advisory is the equivalent of