One of the best things about President Obama's gun control plan...

[Lizzie Poppet]

...is lifting the virtual ban on research into gun-related violence by the CDC. The CDC is well-positioned to carry out this research, and is such a high-visibility organization that it would be very, very difficult for any published results to be significantly compromised by political agendas. The prior situation, in which the NRA effectively shut down this avenue of research (check out this MSNBC article), was completely unacceptable.

As a country, we tend to approach this issue from a standpoint of insufficient knowledge of what's actually happening and in a state of high emotion. Good, objective research into this problem is essential. Good job, Mr. Prez.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. While Obama instructed the CDC to continue Gun/violence studies...

Doesn't funding and allocated funds for the studies STILL have to be voted on and approved by congress?

So the president says, "Continue the gun studies"
The CDC responds, "Sure, where's the money to to the work?"
And congress says, "???"

[Lizzie Poppet]

7. I believe that's the case, yes.

It remains to be seen if opposition to such funding arises (in eh House, I'd assume). I hope it doesn't...but I wouldn't put it past the NRA to try and stifle it.

Personally, that infuriates me (and as many know, I'm a gun owner). If sound science is telling you things you don't want to hear, then it's time to adjust your expectations, not stifle the science.

[actslikeacarrot]

4. B/S. N/T.

.

[longship]

5. Anti-VAX rubbish. nt

[Recursion]

3. Agreed; this is great

Actual epidemiological (as opposed to criminological) data would be a great thing.

[rightsideout]

6. Research is the "sleeper" out of the EOs

The NRA has been attempting to stop studies for years. Their excuse being gun accident and fatality stats will drive up insurance rates.

What I really like is the direct slap in the face at the NRA in EO 16 which says that doctors can now ask their patients if they have a gun in the house since it is a possible safety issue. Before, they could ask about dogs, cats and smoking if you have Asthma but couldn't mention guns as far as possible safety issues. There was wording slipped into the ACA that had mentioned doctors couldn't directly record this information or ask it. I'm not exactly sure how it went but it was only a line or two out of the thousands of pages in the ACA.

So I know the NRA is probably mad as hell about #16. It made my day reading that EO.

[phantom power]

8. Legislation censoring topics of inquiry ought to be unconstitutional

it's just completely antithetical to democracy to declare entire areas of research to be "forbidden" It's fucking ridiculous

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R