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AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION GEARS UP TO FIGHT GOP-CONTROLLED CONGRESS OVER GUN CONTROL
The largest medical association in the United States, the American Medical Association, passed a historic resolution last week in response to the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
After years of tiptoeing around the topic of gun control, AMA leaders voted to officially call gun violence a public health issue -- and respond accordingly.
That means flexing the organization's powerful muscle on Capital Hill to refocus federal funds toward studying gun violence.
To see this through, however, Congress would need to lift a 20-year-old ban that blocks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from funding any research related to gun violence.
But the AMA, with one of the largest political lobbying budgets of any organization in the United States, appears ready to fight.
"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," said AMA President Dr.Steven Stack, in a written statement.
"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," he added.
Read more:
Google: "The Most Powerful Medical Association In The U.S.Gears Up To Fight Congress"
(Note: Last week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut filibustered for 15 hours to force Senate Republicans to take up the issue of gun violence...Of course, Senate Republicans voted against the bills that they ultimately allowed to be introduced.)
Google:"Senate Rejects Series of Gun Measures" (CNN Politics.com)
Yesterday, Rolling Stone magazine did a story about Senator Chris Murphy's attempt to force the Republicans to allow voting on new gun control laws.
Google:
"Meet the Senator Who Filibustered for 15 Hours on Gun Control"
The largest medical association in the United States, the American Medical Association, passed a historic resolution last week in response to the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
After years of tiptoeing around the topic of gun control, AMA leaders voted to officially call gun violence a public health issue -- and respond accordingly.
That means flexing the organization's powerful muscle on Capital Hill to refocus federal funds toward studying gun violence.
To see this through, however, Congress would need to lift a 20-year-old ban that blocks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from funding any research related to gun violence.
But the AMA, with one of the largest political lobbying budgets of any organization in the United States, appears ready to fight.
"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," said AMA President Dr.Steven Stack, in a written statement.
"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," he added.
Read more:
Google: "The Most Powerful Medical Association In The U.S.Gears Up To Fight Congress"
(Note: Last week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut filibustered for 15 hours to force Senate Republicans to take up the issue of gun violence...Of course, Senate Republicans voted against the bills that they ultimately allowed to be introduced.)
Google:"Senate Rejects Series of Gun Measures" (CNN Politics.com)
Yesterday, Rolling Stone magazine did a story about Senator Chris Murphy's attempt to force the Republicans to allow voting on new gun control laws.
Google:
"Meet the Senator Who Filibustered for 15 Hours on Gun Control"
