Obama takes a public health view on guns
President Obama's speech and executive orders were an important step forward to address gun violence.
Obama takes a public health view on guns
Michael Yudell, Associate Professor, Drexel University School of Public Health
By Michael Yudell
President Obama's speech and executive orders were an important step forward to address gun violence. The president affirmed both his support for the Second Amendment and his commitment to quickly reduce gun violence in the wake of the national tragedies in Newtown, Aurora, Oak Creek, and Tucson.
As we’ve written here before, gun violence is a public health problem, and the president’s proposal — ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, improve mental health services, close background check loopholes, and make schools safer — treats it as such.
Any changes to gun laws, including banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines, will have to be taken up by the legislative branch, and the president promised on Wednesday to push Congress to do just that. It will be a hard road ahead to pass such legislation, but hopefully our elected officials pay attention to the national mood on gun safety matters.
According to a poll out this week from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, that mood has dramatically shifted to support basic gun safety measures: 85% of those polled support “background checks for private and gun show sales,” 67% support a “federal database to track gun sales,” and a majority support bans on semi-automatic and assault style weapons, as well as a ban on high-capacity ammunition clips.
Using the power of the executive branch, Obama on Wednesday also issued 23 Executive Orders as steps towards reducing gun violence, including allowing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “to research the causes and prevention of gun violence,” to “provide law enforcement, first responders, and school officials with proper training for active shooter situations,” to “clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors asking their patients about guns in their homes,” and to “launch a national dialogue led by Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan on mental health.”
These measures are a first step in the right direction.
As the president said Wednesday, “in the month since 20 precious children and six brave adults were violently taken from us at Sandy Hook Elementary, more than 900 of our fellow Americans have reportedly died at the end of a gun.”
Now we wait for Congress to act. But every day we wait more Americans will die. “The number will keep growing,” Obama said. Well aware of the political hurdles that lie ahead, the president reminded us “the only way we can change is if the American people demand it.”
So let’s demand it. Now.
Read more posts about violence and trauma on The Public's Health.
Where are the JOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— BushisGood- The word "PUBLIC" has taken root.
Imagine that.— Cuddles - If more guns will make you safer then America should be the safest nation in the world....
Is America the safest nation in the world?— Cuddles - Probably not. I would say North Korea is the safest nation in the world. — not_retired
- ah, the third admendment (skip the ad)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F584p5kJL-U&feature=youtu.be
— STEPHEN1988 - @Foxclove5
Your president sends billions of guns and money to terrorist over seas, so why dont you get your head off his balls and see what he and bush and every other scum in office did.
@cuddles...show me one better..England is the most violent country in Europe— Iknowyourider - He ignores the debasement of our culture and the violence in our cities but acts on mass shootings. There were 80 mass murders with automatic weapons in the US last year and about 16000 committed by other means. I can support much of what he wants here, but this is putting a band aid on a gaping wound. This is what drives me crazy about our politicians and especially liberals. Like the fiscal cliff where if Obama had gotten everything he asked for - 100% that deals with 12 % of our annual deficits. What about the other 88? What about the other 16000 murders a year? Pure political pandering with miniscule results.— tr88
Statistically, doctor mistakes far surpass gun deaths . Over 2ooo deaths every WEEK are the result of doctor incompetence , greed and outright fraud. For Ombama to structure this argument around a "public health" position may be an indicant of sophistry on his part and using tragic events as a pretext to disarm law abiding citizens .— adz- I don't know if you noticed, but healthcare reform has also been a small part of Obama's agenda... — Izzy812
- There were two shootings in SW Philly last night. I guess they didn't get Obama memo about gun control. When will these criminals start obeying the law?— LouDiamondPhillipsheadScrewdriver
- Why doesn't the government stop the slaughter of babies daily in abortion clinics? It's OK to kill children with forceps but not guns.
The government should stay out of the bedroom, the boardroom and the shooting range.— Sportyrider71 - Ah, the "Public Health" power grab attempt. Very similar to the "It's For The Children" ploy. Well played.— rudytbone
- Wow, another reporter in Obama's pocket! Who would have guessed it?? Why don't you stick to writing something you know about, like babies health. Your "ax to grind" is too obvious Yudell.— dogman5
- Obama didn't save maybe 20 lives a year. He limited the freedoms of 300 million people. That's the objective. Now is it really worth it statistically?— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Using children as pawns. Another socialist move. What's that make the count at?— 420Phillie
