We Don't Know How Many Americans Are Shot Each Year. This Bill Could Help Us Find Out.

[babylonsister]

We Don't Know How Many Americans Are Shot Each Year. This Bill Could Help Us Find Out.
New legislation would increase CDC funding for gun violence research from zero dollars to $10 million. The NRA calls the push "unethical" and an "abuse of taxpayer funds."

Lois Beckett, ProPublica
| Wed May 21, 2014 4:30 PM EDT



This story first appeared on the ProPublica website.

Updated 05/21/2014 1:56 p.m.: This story has been updated to include comments from the National Rifle Association and Rep. Maloney.



Two Congressional Democrats are unveiling legislation this morning that would restart the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's gun violence research efforts.

Since 1996, when a small CDC-funded study on the risks of owning a firearm ignited opposition from Republicans, the CDC's budget for research on firearms injuries has shrunk to zero.

The result, as we've detailed, is that many basic questions about gun violence—such as how many Americans are shot each year—remain unanswered.

The new legislation, which will be introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) in the House, and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in the Senate, would give the CDC $10 million a year "for the purpose of conducting or supporting research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention."

"In America, gun violence kills twice as many children as cancer, and yet political grandstanding has halted funding for public health research to understand this crisis," Maloney said in a statement.

A National Rifle Association spokeswoman called the push for new CDC funding "unethical."

more...

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/05/democrats-push-restart-cdc-funding-gun-violence-research

[randys1]

1. Cant be allowed, NRA owns this country...they must

I mean we have 5 yr olds slaughtered by the dozens and we the citizens are not allowed to do anything about it because of the NRA

Personally, I consider the NRA a domestic terrorist organization which should be seized and dismantled and the leaders imprisoned including the CEO's of all gun companies.

[Mnemosyne]

2. Unethical?! nt

[babylonsister]

3. I know; what a lame defense. nt

[Takket]

4. that word doesn't even make sense in that context.

Does the NRA even know what it means?

[Skittles]

5. LOL, the NRA calling ANYTHING "unethical"

fuck those gun humping cowards - what are they afraid of?