I want to highlight a few things about this article.
1. First, kudos to the writers for highlighting an issue that all of us #gunviolence researchers bemoan: that there are NO GOOD SOURCES OF DATA on non-fatal gun injuries. As the article reports, even the CDC admits that its data on #gunviolence injuries are unreliable.
2. Please note that this issue is not unique to #gunviolence non-fatal injuries. It’s also observed for other types of injuries (like drownings).
It’s because of the way that the CDC is forced to collect non-fatal-injury data.
My take on the new #omnibus bill, as it relates to #gunviolence: 1) The fixes to NICS (the background check system) are long overdue. I hope that they will be implemented well. theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
2) I am glad that Congress clarified what CDC, NIH, and NIJ have long known: the "Dickey amendment" doesn't ban research per se. (Cf this article I wrote with @EmmyBetz & Wintemute 2 years ago: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…)
3) HOWEVER: this clarification does **nothing** to fix the lack of research. We need appropriations. Want to know more about why this clarification is meaningless (and may even be harmful)? Read here: npr.org/sections/healt…
Over the past 2 days, hundreds of doctors have shared heartbreaking accounts of how #gunviolence is a #publichealth issue. These are the stories of #docs4gunsense ... May their words make a difference.
The result of a bullet ricocheting inside the skull and destroying the brain on CT scan. The worst trauma I have seen. GUNS ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE – Gen Geller MD, NY #docs4gunsense@drgenngeller
The damage a bullet does to a 1 year old brain as it ricochets back and for. The guilt the family feels. The sadness we all feel.
Melissa Miller MD, Missouri
Peds EM #docs4gunsense