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Affiliation
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Health Policy and Management, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA hemenway@hsph.harvard.edu. |
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Abstract
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The US is an outlier compared with other high-income countries in terms of firearms and the problems they cause. While we have average rates of non-firearm crime and violence, we have by far the most guns per capita (particularly handguns) and the weakest gun laws.1 For example, in most US states, there is no licensure law for firearm owners, no registration of handguns and no training requirements for gun ownership. Not surprisingly, our firearm homicide, firearm suicide and unintentional firearm death rates are much higher than rates in other high-income countries.2
For most documented injury prevention success stories, data and research played an important role.3 Unfortunately, gun lobby groups have helped to prevent much of the data collection and funding for research that could have shed light on how to reduce our firearm-related public health and safety problems.4 5 One estimate is that, compared with other leading causes of death, gun violence had less than 5% of the volume of scientific publications predicted.6
Research is important for many reasons. It provides foundational knowledge about the various aspects of the problem, suggests what policies and programmes may make sense, and evaluates whether they are working effectively. The drumbeat of research findings can keep the issue and possible solutions salient for both politicians and the public.
For most public health successes, there was strong opposition, but eventually, the situation tipped. In the firearms area, perhaps the tide is turning. We can certainly hope. Many things have happened over the past few years that suggest we might possibly be nearing a tipping point.
The increase in mass public shootings, particularly at schools, has awakened the entire public to the dangers posed by firearms. The simple fact that most schools now have active shooter drills provides a constant reminder. Even suburban upper-middle-class white moms are being affected, because they see that their children are in danger. The incredible response of the students at Stoneman Douglas High School has helped to galvanise activism. (Sadly, the extraordinarily high rates of firearm homicide victimisation of African–Americans never provided the wake-up call our nation needed to begin to tackle the problem).
Media interest about guns no longer is determined solely by mass shootings. In the past ...
Language: en |