Well, it's part of the collective defense. If guns are hurting people, then it makes a lot of sense to figure out what is causing the guns to hurt people. Like any unknown system, there could be a few obvious tweaks that make a big difference
I get it, generally. But they don't seem to be thought of when the question of, say, reducing the rates of rape and sexual assault in our society comes up, or, if one is more focused on the objects being the problem, of reducing DUI/DWI rates. Calling it and treating gunshot wounds as a public health issue when there's no other sorts of assaults - other than perhaps STDs - that qualify for the same treatment would seem to make it as ideological a move as framing the issue itself as "gun safety" versus "gun control".
Personally I'd suggest starting with better data collection, though; has the CDC had much luck in working with the FBI and state and local law enforcement on such things previously? Data that everyone (or anyway, everyone without an axe to grind, and neither Lott nor Bellesiles seems to qualify) could trust would be a great starting point.