The most devastating mass shooting since the Sandy Hook tragedy occurred recently, claiming the lives of 14 individuals at a center for those with developmental disabilities. In just the past week, there have been six mass shootings—defined as incidents involving four or more victims. According to ShootingTracker.com, there have been 355 mass shootings in the United States in 2015 alone, which means we’ve experienced more mass shootings than there have been days this year.
Take a moment to absorb that.
The situation continues to deteriorate, with every new report revealing increasingly alarming statistics. Not long ago, we highlighted the fact that there had been 43 shootings involving toddlers so far this year. When will this cycle end?
There is a consensus that we need to take action, but how do we achieve that? There are tangible steps we can implement to reduce gun violence, grounded in solid research that can guide significant changes in legislation.
For the past two decades, research into gun violence has been largely stifled due to lobbying efforts from the NRA, which pushed for the Dickey Amendment. This amendment prohibits funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from being used to advocate or promote gun control. This means that the CDC, an organization dedicated to public health and safety, is unable to study the impact of gun violence. The NRA argued that researching gun violence equated to advocating for gun control. After a recent shooting on an Oregon campus, former Congressman Jay Dickey, the namesake of the amendment, expressed his regret over the lack of research, stating, “I wish we had started the proper research and kept it going all this time.”
Yesterday, members of Congress joined physicians nationwide in calling for an end to this research ban. “Gun violence presents one of the most significant public health challenges we face, yet due to this misguided ban, our understanding of it is severely limited,” said Rep. Laura Evans, who serves as vice chair of the House’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. “Regardless of our stance on gun violence, we should agree that our discussions must be informed by objective data and comprehensive scientific research.”
The ban has silenced researchers and left policymakers without the necessary data to advocate effectively for legislative changes. It’s staggering to realize that for two decades, we have not conducted thorough studies on the causes of gun violence or how to prevent it.
“It’s disheartening that we’ve seen so little advancement in addressing gun violence over the past 20 years,” remarked Dr. Mia Sanchez, a pediatrician with years of experience in urban healthcare. “In my career, I’ve witnessed lives saved from preventable conditions because of federal scientific research. It’s frustrating that the CDC cannot conduct similar studies on gun violence.”
The argument that “a gun is not a disease” holds little merit when considering that the CDC has researched various non-disease-related issues, including traffic accidents and natural disasters, for years.
Incidentally, the call for action from healthcare professionals occurred mere hours before news broke of a mass shooting in San Bernardino.
We can take action against gun violence—we just haven’t done so yet.
The correlation between guns and increased fatalities is clear. Statistics consistently show this, year after year. Gun sales are surging, with a record 185,345 background checks processed by the FBI on Black Friday alone. The previous record was set shortly after the Sandy Hook shooting, when 953,613 background checks were conducted in the week following the tragedy. Is it too much to suggest that these mass shootings are beneficial for the firearms industry? While the NRA may not officially acknowledge it, they are undoubtedly aware of the trend. Following Sandy Hook, NRA President Wayne LePierre stated, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
So, let’s continue advocating for more firearms in the hands of “good guys,” avoid laws that could regulate gun sales, and keep research on gun violence under wraps. It certainly seems to be working.
Join us in taking a stand against gun violence and striving for a safer environment for our children. Discover ways to make a difference at Everytown. This is crucial for our collective future. For additional insights into creating a safer home, Making Bathtime Enjoyable can help you foster a nurturing environment. For a deeper understanding of related issues, Medical News Today is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, while the statistics surrounding gun violence are alarming, there are actionable steps we can take to address the issue. The ongoing ban on research hampers our ability to understand and mitigate this crisis. We must advocate for change and utilize data to inform our decisions moving forward.