Citation

Cook PJ. Ann. Intern Med. 2018; 169(10): 723-724.

Affiliation

Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (P.J.C.).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American College of Physicians)

DOI

10.7326/M18-2846

PMID

30383127

Abstract

The position paper from the American College of Physicians (ACP) in this issue provides an important service in helping to recruit physicians to the cause of gun violence prevention. The paper expands on the position the ACP adopted in 2014 by endorsing specific regulations, such as universal background checks for gun purchases, expansion of state and federal bans on gun possession by domestic violence offenders, a renewed nationwide ban on assault weapons, and enactment of extreme risk protection order laws (“red flag” laws) as well as child access prevention laws. The position paper cites evidence to support these endorsements, indicating in some cases that the evidence is not as strong as one would like. (Readers seeking a more complete assessment of the literature can consult the recent report from RAND Corporation.) Accordingly, the ACP renews its call for more federal research funding. It should be noted that despite the lack of federal funding, gun violence prevention research is a very active field, due in part to a surge in private funding. However, regardless of the research budget, there are inherent statistical challenges to determining the effect of these policies that would preclude scientific certainty with respect to many of the relevant policies .

The position paper is motivated by the statement that “[f]irearm violence continues to be a public health crisis in the United States that ...

Language: en