Ali Rowhani-Rahbar Addresses Gun Violence Research and Funding in New Editorial
Posted: 3/30/2020 (CSDE Research)
Despite the consistent gun violence crisis in the US, a lack of funding for gun violence research and roadblocks for firearm policy implementation exist. This is why CSDE Affiliate Ali Rowhani-Rahbar co-authored a recent editorial titled “US Gun Violence and Deaths” for The BMJ. In the editorial, Rowhani-Rahbar and his co-authors welcome funding from Congress for gun research—as gun violence is a public health crisis, Congress must allocate the federal funding quickly. However, Rowhani-Rahbar details how research alone will not suffice. As political divides create obstacles for implementation of policies to reduce gun violence, research “must include how to release the logjam of politics federally and how best to implement laws in communities”.
Rowhani-Rahbar and his co-authors conclude the editorial by stating, “federal research funding is welcome and long overdue. But until the research can spur action, the funding will do little to stop the crisis”.