Gun Violence Research in the United States: Public Health and Policy Needs

Each mass shooting in the United States rekindles the debate over the state of gun violence in the U.S. and research examining the issue. Federal research into injuries and deaths caused by guns has been stalled for 20 years, since Congress directed a federal agency to halt any studies that could be considered to be promoting gun control. However, gun violence research has persisted outside of the federal government, leading to compelling analyses of the patchwork of state gun laws, the economics of the gun market, law enforcement, and many other facets of firearm use. This session discusses the current state of gun violence research, including its successes, failures, and the path forward.