7 votes

Why most gun laws aren’t backed up by evidence

3 comments

  1. cfabbro
    Link
    Despite the headline and what it seems to imply, it's actually a reasonably balanced article IMO. But I think it's also important to note a key paragraph before anyone jumps to conclusions based...

    Despite the headline and what it seems to imply, it's actually a reasonably balanced article IMO. But I think it's also important to note a key paragraph before anyone jumps to conclusions based on the headline alone.

    That fact, however, doesn’t mean other gun laws don’t work — just that the research proving it doesn’t yet exist. Scientists I spoke to saw it as an “absence of evidence” problem, stemming from long-standing, intentional roadblocks in the path of gun violence research. Even the authors of the Rand report say lawmakers should still be putting policies aimed at preventing gun violence into practice now — regardless of what the science does or doesn’t say.

    11 votes
  2. [2]
    nacho
    Link
    The issue at hand is that (Republican) lawmakers didn't want research. So they ensured there wouldn't be any for decades. Now we're playing catch-up. It's a start, but research in the field is...

    The issue at hand is that (Republican) lawmakers didn't want research. So they ensured there wouldn't be any for decades.

    Now we're playing catch-up. It's a start, but research in the field is still woefully underfunded compared to how extremely costly gun violence is to society.

    6 votes
    1. Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      It's such an insane position to hold. Just try substituting other things that society has restricted.

      It's such an insane position to hold.

      In 2018, Congress clarified that the federal government can study gun violence, as long as it doesn’t promote gun control. Soon after, lawmakers began funding research.

      Just try substituting other things that society has restricted.

      In 2018, Congress clarified that the federal government can study tobacco/alcohol/public nudity, as long as it doesn’t promote restricting tobacco/alcohol/public nudity

      5 votes