Last week’s stunning election results and not-so-subtle reminder that this country is a constitutional republic, whose electoral college system and basic human values could perhaps use an overhaul, have left many of us reeling.
This campaign, arguably one of the most polarizing in modern history, shone a big, ugly spotlight on how little progress we have actually made toward being a “united” and forward-thinking nation.
It is clear that we are at a turning point. And given that the stubborn and defiant child that has been Congress for the past eight years will soon have a permissive and indulgent parent in charge, the next four years are going to be a challenge, at best, for at least 61 million of us. So what can we do, as we’re feeling angry, afraid, hopeless or all of the above, when the issues are many, the emotion is raw and the work seems insurmountable?
We start right here, with grassroots efforts that, while seemingly small with respect to the bigger picture, will have a positive impact on our community.
Earlier this week, a gun safety forum was offered to islanders in an effort to highlight firearm violence, specifically suicide, as a public health issue. Why is this worth mentioning? Because while massive public awareness and safety campaigns have been mounted successfully for issues like wearing seat belts and the health dangers of smoking, the public health crisis due to gun violence in this country has been purposely kept under wraps by way of a congressional amendment to the federal Omnibus Spending Bill of 1996, that remains in effect to this day.
The Dickey Amendment, named for the Republican congressman who proposed it, mandated that “no funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) may be used to advocate for or promote gun control,” and also diverted over $2 million in federal funding away from CDC firearms research. Even though the amendment does not specifically ban studying firearms violence, the CDC has since been reluctant to fund research in this area for fear of further financial reprisals. And despite efforts to remove the amendment from the federal spending bill for 2016, the Republican-controlled House renewed it.
Between 1968 and 2011, the death toll from firearms violence (accidental and intentional, including suicide) reached 1.4 million, surpassing the 1.2 million from every war and conflict the U.S. has been involved in since the Revolution (both estimates verified by Politifact). It is clearly a serious public health issue. So if our federal government chooses to remain beholden to special interests — which seems to be a given, considering the elected candidate’s position statements and his party’s control of both houses — then it is truly up to us to get the work done closer to home.
The forum, a collaborative effort between gun owners, non-owners and public health experts, is one example of the kind of effort that can make a difference, even when political machinations are working against it.
It starts with us.
