Hazelwood

Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis

Edward Greissing, Dan Diamond, Megan L. Ranney, Babak Sarani, Leana Wen, Mallory Williams, Chris Corey, Josh Wright, Hazelwood

A diverse panel of medical experts and advocates asserts that while gun violence is increasingly recognized as a public health epidemic, federal research funding remains critically stagnant due to the 1996 Dickey Amendment, leaving survivors of mass shootings without verified data tracking. Consequently, the group advocates for shifting focus from sweeping federal bans on assault rifles to localized, holistic interventions such as Baltimore's "Safe Streets" violence interruption model and evidence-based policies targeting high-capacity magazines and domestic violence. Looking forward, the panel predicts that systemic change will likely emerge from private sector risk incentives and upstream socioeconomic investments rather than immediate national legislative breakthroughs.