The American Medical Association has labelled gun violence a public health crisis

By MiNDFOOD

The American Medical Association has labelled gun violence a public health crisis
The AMA has labelled gun violence a public health crisis and plans to lobby for research into gun-related issues.

In response to the ongoing issue of gun related violence in America, and namely, what is now known as the largest mass-shooting in America’s history – Orlando, the AMA has called for gun control research to be made available to the medical industry.

In a move that may shake things up for gun law reform in the U.S, the American Medical Association has announced its plan to lobby Congress to overturn laws that prohibit the U.S Centres for Disease Control and Prevention from studying gun violence – as related to a public health issue.

“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,” said AMA President Steven J. Stack, M.D. “Even as America faces a crisis unrivaled 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. An epidemiological analysis of gun violence is vital so physicians and other health providers, law enforcement, and society at large may be able to prevent injury, death and other harms to society resulting from firearms.”

The policy will also recommend stricter waiting periods for purchasing firearms and more thorough background checks.

It also said in the same statement that reform is needed if the unimaginable amount of deaths are to be stopped in the U.S.

The AMA “recognizes that uncontrolled ownership and use of firearms, especially handguns, is a serious threat to the public’s health inasmuch as the weapons are one of the main causes of intentional and unintentional injuries and deaths”.

What do you think about the need to reform gun-control laws in America?

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login