Doctors hit back at NRA attacks on gun research: 'Where are you when I tell families their loved one has died'

The National Rifle Association this week publicly attacked medical researchers who have concluded that easy access to firearms has led to thousands of needless deaths -- and now doctors are hitting back.

Earlier this week, the NRA went after the Annals of Internal Medicine for publishing articles on gun violence that recommended restricting access to firearms.

"Someone should tell self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane," the NRA wrote on its Twitter account. "Half of the articles in Annals of Internal Medicine are pushing for gun control. Most upsetting, however, the medical community seems to have consulted NO ONE but themselves."

As NBC News reports, several doctors hit back at the NRA by pointing out that they deal with the consequences of gun violence every day -- and they are not going to back down from warning people about the dangers of having guns readily available.

"As a Trauma Surgeon and survivor of gun violence I cannot believe the audacity of the NRA to make such a divisive statement," wrote Dr. Joseph Sakran. "We take care of these patients everyday. Where are you when I’m having to tell all those families their loved one has died."

Emergency physician Nahzinine Shakeri similarly slapped down the NRA for lecturing her when she's the one who has to tell parents that their children have died from gun violence.

"You’re welcome to come along next time I have to tell a mother her child has been shot and killed," she wrote. "We deal with this tragedy on a daily basis. THIS IS OUR LANE."

Emergency physician Megan Ranney was particularly upset that the NRA launched its attacks on doctors less than an hour after a shooter massacred twelve people at a bar in California.

"12 more parents have lost their children," she wrote. "Another community is traumatized. I have had enough. I am DONE with @NRA telling me I can't talk about this. DONE accepting federal limits on research. And I know you are, too."