Emerging Trend in Gun-Related Academic Studies
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the study of g violence in the United States, contrary to some misconceptions. The U.S. House of Representatives, under the leadership of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), has taken a step forward by approving $50 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) to delve deeper into this critical issue.
The renewed focus on g violence research can be traced back to 2013, when then-President Barack Obama convened a meeting with 23 large foundations to encourage them to fund research aimed at supporting a national push for gun control. Since then, the Dickey Amendment, which had previously been interpreted as a ban on g violence research, has been clarified. In 2018, Congress acknowledged that the Dickey Amendment does not prevent the CDC from researching g violence to present potential solutions.
This shift in perspective is not a new concept. In 1994, Dr. Mark Rosenberg, O'Carroll's successor at the CDC, called for a revolution in the way the CDC approached guns, likening it to the transformation in understanding surrounding cigarettes and their health risks. Dr. P.W. O'Carroll, who served as acting Section Head of the Division of Injury Control at the CDC in 1989, had stated that the CDC was working to build a case that owning firearms causes deaths.
The increase in funding and renewed focus on g violence research has led to a surge in studies. Since 2011, firearms research in medical journals has more than doubled, with a significant portion of this research funded by philanthropists such as Michael Bloomberg and George Soros' Open Society Foundation, as well as the Joyce and MacArthur Foundations.
In 2018, the RAND Corp. announced a new $20-million fund to create and promote g-control research, aiming to raise an additional $30 million. This funding, coupled with state investments, has allowed for a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing g violence. States like California and New Jersey have devoted millions of dollars to the g-control effort.
It's important to note that while there has been a surge in g violence research, it does not necessarily equate to a push for g control. The Dickey Amendment, passed in 1996, states that none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the CDC may be used to advocate or promote g control.
However, the controversy surrounding the CDC's research on g violence remains. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, co-founded by Michael Bloomberg, claimed that the CDC faced restrictions or self-censorship in researching g violence due to political pressure. This assertion is contested, as while there have been legislative barriers like the Dickey Amendment limiting CDC funding for g control advocacy, the CDC has conducted research on g violence within these constraints.
Despite the ongoing debate, the increase in funding and research is a promising step towards understanding and addressing the complex issue of g violence in the United States. With $43 million spent on g-violence research between 2015 and 2018, and a coming wave of studies likely to be published in the months before the 2020 election, there is a growing body of evidence that could inform policy and potentially lead to meaningful change.
The U.S. Senate, under its current leadership, is unlikely to take up and pass this funding. Regardless, the momentum for g violence research continues to grow, with organisations like the Fund for a Safer Future (FSF) making more than $7M in grants to reduce g violence since 2011. As the research continues, it is hoped that a clearer understanding of the issue will lead to effective solutions and a reduction in the devastating impact of g violence on communities across the United States.
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