In wellness visits, primary care doctors have a few minutes with patients to check in about various issues related to their health, including smoking, drinking, medications and exercise.

Some physicians have added gun safety to the list. The move stems from the perspective, shared by the Minnesota Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups, that gun violence is a public health crisis.

Dr. Thomas Kottke has been surveying doctors about their experiences speaking with patients about gun storage. Kottke is HealthPartners’ medical director for wellbeing and a board member of the group Protect Minnesota, which advocates for firearm restrictions and violence prevention programs.

MPR News host Cathy Wurzer talked with him about what he’s heard from physicians and what lessons he’s drawn from tobacco prevention.