Gun violence can be solved with science, public health experts say

[SecularMotion]

Gun violence must be treated as a public-health issue — such as alcohol, smoking and traffic — say people concerned about gun-related death rates from mass shootings and random shots nationwide.

"Guns are where tobacco was in the 1950s," said Garen Wintemute, director of the Violence Prevention Research Program, who practices emergency medicine at the University of California at Davis School of Medicine. "There's a little bit of science and a great deal of reluctance to do anything with the results."

A public-health approach based on scientific research would provide practical solutions for communities — with the additional benefit of sidestepping the political quagmire of the constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms.

"It's not going to do any harm to look at it from a public-health perspective," Denver Police Chief Robert White said, "and it might help us get to the root of why gun violence is such a pervasive issue in our society and why there is such a pervasive need for young people to have guns."


http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_22060979/gun-violence-can-be-solved-science-public-health#ixzz2DLKA0YH3

[slackmaster]

1. Researchers want money

[Atypical Liberal]

2. Everything can be solved with science.

And not just gun violence, but violence in general.

I personally welcome research into gun violence. I think the results are going to confirm what many of us have suspected all along:

Crime is an anti-social behavior problem. Mental illness aside, most anti-social behaviors that lead to crime are probably a result of disparities in wealth that result in feelings of despair, desperation, and hopelessness in individual expectations of opportunity. Once people believe that they are being unfairly denied an opportunity to advance through accepted channels, they will then turn to unaccepted channels for advancement, such as crime.

I think it is important to emphasize the disparities in wealth, and not just the general economic health of a society. I suspect that when everyone is poor, there is an acceptance of "the way things are". If your life is poor, but it generally in line with the expectations of everyone else in your society, you will probably accept that. But when your life is poor, but you are constantly reminded that many of the people in your society have it much better than you do, this can be a cause of great stress and a sense of dissatisfaction with one's place in the world. If no opportunity is seen to escape this dilemma, then it leads to a sense of great injustice. Then I think lots of people turn to crime.

Note that none of this has much to do with the weapons used to engage in crime. That's because the violent crime problem is a social problem, and not a technology problem.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. actually, I think I agree with what is being said here:

A public-health approach based on scientific research would provide practical solutions for communities — with the additional benefit of sidestepping the political quagmire of the constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms.

"It's not going to do any harm to look at it from a public-health perspective," Denver Police Chief Robert White said, "and it might help us get to the root of why gun violence is such a pervasive issue in our society and why there is such a pervasive need for young people to have guns."

If I am understanding correctly, 2A has nothing to do with the issue therefore ignore it (go around it, side-step it) and get to the root cause --- and start early --- why inner city youths feel the need for a gun.

Yes, attack this from the socio-economic point, from the mental health point, from an educational standpoint, with a scientific approach.

It won't be easy and it will be a longitudinal study but, the end result, I believe, will be worth it.

[Eleanors38]

4. Correction on approach: "...get to the root of why

violence is such a pervasive issue."

Any approach colored by a method ("gun violence&quot corrupts a scientific approach, esp. one couched in "public health."

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. possibly but, lets face it as science advances ways to kill people and people

purchase this new technology then science also needs to advance ways to better people's lives and understand the reasons why people feel the need to use the new technology to kill people.

The frustration, the lack of hope, the no way out. It all begins at an early age. The energy with no direction, what do kids do with it?

[Eleanors38]

8. Consider guns, but "gun violence" distorts a scientific aporoach

To study of social problems and the policy decisions which may go with them. The approach in the OP seems to emphasize "gun violence" over more encompassing study; it's too narrow.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. agree to disagree. as a Nation with 2A we are in a unique position and we need to accept the

responsibility that goes with that right. Truth is, I don't really think it requires a study and agree with the above poster that they are just looking for a grant.

Could be better used to promote health and education and support for our inner city youths who seem to be the ones most affected by this phenomenon.

[Eleanors38]

10. Agree with better use of funds.

What disturbs me is how debate has moved from wider, more holistic approaches to a thin, nearly contrived argument about gun crime. This latter approach cannot support the broad and deep look at what causes crime and, more importantly, the lack of belief that there is even cause for hope in poor neighborhoods and the inner city.

As inefficient and cumbersome as they were, the approaches of the 60s and 70s look far more advanced and sophisticated than present outlooks, even among progressives.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. true.

[4th law of robotics]

5. It's not entirely complicated

Poor mental healthcare, a misguided legal system, poverty, lack of education, and the war on drugs.

We need the will to fix it and to stop wasting time blaming guns and the constitution.

[cleanhippie]

7. In a nutshell, gun violence ain't about the guns, it's about disparity and poverty.

I welcome a scientific inquiry into the root causes of gun violence as well. Take the emotion out of the argument and get down to why people shoot, stab, beat, or otherwise harm each other in the first place.

But like a rational look at religion, those that blame the gun itself for the violence will be reluctant to accept the conclusions.