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Gun violence in US is a 'public health crisis', say leading doctors Gun violence in US is a 'public health crisis', say leading doctors
(2 months later)
The worst mass shooting in modern US history has prompted the American Medical Association to call gun violence a “public health crisis” and urge that Congress fund research into the problem.The worst mass shooting in modern US history has prompted the American Medical Association to call gun violence a “public health crisis” and urge that Congress fund research into the problem.
The AMA, which lobbies on behalf of doctors, said on Tuesday it will press Congress to overturn 20-year-old legislation that blocks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from conducting research on gun violence.The AMA, which lobbies on behalf of doctors, said on Tuesday it will press Congress to overturn 20-year-old legislation that blocks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from conducting research on gun violence.
Related: Orlando gunman Omar Mateen 'was a regular at Pulse nightclub'
Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early on Sunday morning.Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early on Sunday morning.
The AMA adopted the policy at its annual meeting in Chicago. It called US gun violence a crisis that requires a comprehensive response and solution.The AMA adopted the policy at its annual meeting in Chicago. It called US gun violence a crisis that requires a comprehensive response and solution.
Steven Stack, AMA president, said: “With approximately 30,000 men, women and children dying each year at the barrel of a gun in elementary schools, movie theaters, workplaces, houses of worship and on live television, the United States faces a public health crisis of gun violence.”Steven Stack, AMA president, said: “With approximately 30,000 men, women and children dying each year at the barrel of a gun in elementary schools, movie theaters, workplaces, houses of worship and on live television, the United States faces a public health crisis of gun violence.”
“Even as America faces a crisis unrivalled in any other developed country, the Congress prohibits the CDC from conducting the very research that would help us understand the problems associated with gun violence and determine how to reduce the high rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries.”“Even as America faces a crisis unrivalled in any other developed country, the Congress prohibits the CDC from conducting the very research that would help us understand the problems associated with gun violence and determine how to reduce the high rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries.”
Congress placed restrictions on CDC funding of gun research into the federal budget in 1996 at the urging of gun rights supporters who claimed the agency was biased toward gun control.Congress placed restrictions on CDC funding of gun research into the federal budget in 1996 at the urging of gun rights supporters who claimed the agency was biased toward gun control.
AMA has several long-standing gun safety policies including support of legislation that calls for a waiting period before the purchase of any form of firearm in the United States. It also supports background checks for all handgun buyers.AMA has several long-standing gun safety policies including support of legislation that calls for a waiting period before the purchase of any form of firearm in the United States. It also supports background checks for all handgun buyers.
The statement comes as the mother of a child killed in the Newtown school shooting wrote an open letter to the families of the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.The statement comes as the mother of a child killed in the Newtown school shooting wrote an open letter to the families of the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre.
Nelba Marquez-Greene posted a letter on the memorial Facebook page for her daughter, Ana Grace, who was one of the 20 first-graders and six educators fatally shot in December 2012.Nelba Marquez-Greene posted a letter on the memorial Facebook page for her daughter, Ana Grace, who was one of the 20 first-graders and six educators fatally shot in December 2012.
In it she described how hearing about the Orlando shooting took her back to the horror she felt as one of those waiting to hear news about a loved one.In it she described how hearing about the Orlando shooting took her back to the horror she felt as one of those waiting to hear news about a loved one.
“I am sorry that our tragedy here in Sandy hook wasn’t enough to save your loved ones,” she wrote. “I tried and I won’t stop trying. Don’t you dare even listen to even ONE person who may insinuate that somehow this is your loved ones fault because they were gay or any other reason. Nor is it God’s wrath.”“I am sorry that our tragedy here in Sandy hook wasn’t enough to save your loved ones,” she wrote. “I tried and I won’t stop trying. Don’t you dare even listen to even ONE person who may insinuate that somehow this is your loved ones fault because they were gay or any other reason. Nor is it God’s wrath.”