"There are more women dying, there are more men dying, and there are more children dying." [View all]

[Robb]

Pediatricians take on gun lobby -- carefully

To pediatricians, gun control is a public health issue, not a political one. But they're treading a fine line, and they know it.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has begun a renewed push to try to get Congress to pass gun control measures, sending more than 100 pediatricians to Capitol Hill earlier this month. But others who have taken on the issue over the past decade have a warning for them: they can run afoul of the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun groups that are quick to paint anyone who advocates for gun control as a political extremist.

What the doctors want is an assault weapon ban, mandatory background checks and waiting periods before all firearm purchases, a ban on high-capacity magazines, handgun regulations and requirements for safe firearm storage under federal law.

Pediatricians are puzzled that the statistics aren’t speaking for themselves.

“Where there are more guns in the United States, there are more people dying,” Dr. Matthew Miller of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center told the meeting in Washington, D.C.. “There are more women dying, there are more men dying, and there are more children dying. We are talking about a lot of people who are dying when they live in places with a lot of guns and homes with guns.”

Read More: http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/13/18200262-pediatricians-take-on-gun-lobby-carefully?lite