Gun violence was the topic of discussion among U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on Tuesday, as they explored ways to address it as a public health crisis. The committee, led by Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois, aimed to build upon last year’s federal gun safety legislation.
Durbin emphasized that gun violence is an epidemic nationwide, while Senate Republicans argued against framing it as a public health crisis. They believed such an approach would violate the Second Amendment and instead advocated for a focus on mental health.
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To help determine how to expand the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, Democrats called upon various experts, including doctors and public health professionals.
Passing any additional gun safety legislation will be challenging, as Republicans control the House and Democrats have only a slim majority in the Senate, requiring a 60-vote threshold.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was prompted by tragic events like the Uvalde, Texas shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, and the white supremacist attack in Buffalo, New York, where 10 Black people were killed. This year has seen several high-profile mass shootings, including incidents in Nashville, Tennessee, and Lewiston, Maine, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.
Durbin argued that Congress must take action because the U.S. stands out for its high levels of gun violence. The Gun Violence Archive reported 619 mass shootings this year alone. Furthermore, firearm-related injuries have become the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the country.
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One witness, Megan L. Ranney, the dean of the Yale School of Public Health, stressed the importance of collecting data on gun violence to address it effectively. She emphasized the need to identify risks and develop violence prevention programs based on data analysis.
Senator Cornyn contended that mental health was closely tied to gun violence and mass shootings. However, Ranney clarified that studies indicate people with mental health problems are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. She also highlighted the connection between mental illness and firearm suicide, which is a leading cause of firearm-related deaths in the country.
Another witness, Franklin Cosey-Gay, the director of the Violence Recovery Program at UChicago Medicine, emphasized the importance of hospital-based violence intervention programs. These programs involve multidisciplinary approaches and aim to provide comprehensive recovery support to reduce re-injury after discharge.
The discussion also touched on New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s executive order declaring gun violence a public health emergency. Several Republicans criticized the order, viewing it as an attack on the Second Amendment.
In conclusion, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s discussion on gun violence as a public health crisis highlighted the need for comprehensive gun safety legislation and intervention programs to address this pressing issue.
