Video Highlights
- The CDC has faced political roadblocks in funding gun violence prevention efforts
- The Dickey Amendment prohibits the CDC from using federal funds to advocate or promote gun control
- Congress recently allocated $25 million for gun violence research
- States have received grants to build databases and collect data on gun violence
- The CDC's involvement in gun violence prevention has been controversial
Video Summary
In a recent video, firearm expert Braden discusses an NPR article about the CDC's funding for gun violence prevention efforts. He highlights the biased nature of the article and delves into the history behind the CDC's involvement in addressing gun injuries.
Braden points out that the CDC has faced political roadblocks in funding gun violence prevention. This is due to the Dickey Amendment, a 1996 Federal rule that prohibits the CDC from using federal funds to advocate or promote gun control. Despite the NPR article suggesting that the CDC is helping states address gun injuries, Braden argues that the Dickey Amendment prevents the CDC from funding gun control projects and research.
However, Braden reveals that there has been a compromise in recent years. Congress agreed to allocate $25 million for gun violence research in 2018, which was included in the 2020 spending bill. As part of this funding, states have received grants, around $225,000, to set up tools and databases to collect data on gun violence. Braden emphasizes that while this funding aims to collect data, it is not intended for funding gun control efforts.
Braden then goes on to discuss the origins of the Dickey Amendment. He explains that it arose in response to efforts made in the early 1990s to treat gun violence as a public health issue. The NRA played a significant role in lobbying for the elimination of the CDC's injury prevention center, leading to the addition of the Dickey Amendment to the spending bill. The amendment prohibits the use of funds for advocating or promoting gun control.
Braden criticizes the NPR article for framing the issue as a simple research and data collection effort. He argues that if the intention was solely research-based, there would be no problem obtaining the funds. However, he suggests that the CDC's involvement in gun violence prevention is driven by a desire for gun control, which the Dickey Amendment aims to prevent.
Finally, Braden questions the notion of a gun violence epidemic. He cites a state epidemiologist who states that unintentional gun injuries peaked in 2020, likely due to the pandemic, but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels. Braden questions the need for extensive gun control measures if the trend has returned to normal.
In conclusion, Braden's analysis highlights the complicated history of CDC funding for gun violence prevention and the impact of the Dickey Amendment. While the CDC has faced political roadblocks, recent funding has allowed states to collect data on gun violence. However, the intentions behind this funding and the broader debate around gun control remain contentious.
