A 1996 amendment banning the CDC from using funds to “advocate or promote gun control” has been an oft-cited obstacle in making gun violence a public health issue. Lack of official knowledge on the topic has policy makers and medical professionals unable to effectively do their jobs. The Supreme Court recently ruled that domestic violence convictions are grounds for banning them from possessing a firearm - but this does not change laws … it only means that we could. In order for such changes to be made, we first need to understand the climate surrounding gun usage in society, as well as understand how we currently consider it.

By examining firearms policies at all levels, sale and purchase of firearms and data on issuance and revocation of firearms, we can begin to understand what does and doesn’t work and what we need to do better. Information doesn’t have to harm society, but lack of it probably will.

Image via Wikimedia Commons and is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0