Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
In August, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky addressed gun violence in an interview with CNN.
During the interview, Walensky described gun violence as a “serious public health threat.” She added, “Now is the time — it’s pedal to the metal time.”
“The scope of the problem is just bigger than we’re even hearing about, and when your heart wrenches every day you turn on the news, you’re only hearing the tip of the iceberg,” Walensky said. “We haven’t spent the time, energy and frankly the resources to understand this problem because it’s been so divided.”
Watch the interview:
Following Walensky’s August interview, recent news articles discussed the CDC’s effort to conduct research on gun violence.
NPR story, “After 25 Years In The Dark, The CDC Wants To Study The True Toll Of Guns In America,” described the need for gun violence research.
The story focused on a few cases of victims of gun violence.
The CDC website lists the grants that are studying gun violence.
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division for Violence Prevention (DVP) is committing $7,836,869 to fund sixteen research awards under RFA-CE-20-006: Research Grants to Prevent Firearm-Related Violence and Injuries.
Critics responded to the CDC’s initiative.
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) blasted the CDC’s priorities.
The CDC must have a lot of time on their hands, as they’ve just commissioned a study on gun violence.
So let me get this straight, they handle rent and now the 2nd Amendment?
When do they have time to fight diseases?
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) September 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/SPepper1964/status/1443496921168060417?s=20
The CDC is having enough trouble dealing with the pandemic and by studying gun violence at this time exposes the agency’s misplaced priorities and its political agenda.
It’s highly likely the result from these studies will be used to justify gun regulation and peel away at the 2nd Amendment.
The CDC should be focused on fighting infectious diseases and not getting mired in social science research.
