Why Won’t The Feds Research Gun Violence? The Dickey Amendment

What’s the story?

The NRA made headlines on Thursday by simply endorsing the idea of the federal government looking into the details of bump stocks, which allow gun owners to alter a semi-automatic weapon to perform like an automatic one. But further gun reforms are unlikely, in part because the federal government has no research to base changes in policy on.

The reason they have no government funded research is the Dickey Amendment.

Why does it matter?

The Dickey Amendment, which was included in an appropriations bill that President Bill Clinton signed in 1997, and was strongly backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), dictated that no money given to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for "injury prevention" could be used for to “advocate or promote gun control.”

Research into gun violence is not explicitly prohibited, but Center staff felt that it was strongly implied, especially because the amendment was accompanied by a $2.6 million budget cut.

According to ABC News, since that time CDC policy has stated that, "the agency "interprets" the language as a prohibition on using CDC funds to research gun issues that would be used in legislative arguments "intended to restrict or control the purchase or use of firearms.""

The Amendment is named for former Rep. Jay Dickey (R-AR), who had strong support during his time in Congress from the NRA. Even so, he posted an op-ed in the Washington Post following a 2012 mass shooting at an Aurora, CO movie theater in which he advocated for government research into gun violence:

"scientific research should be conducted into preventing firearm injuries and that ways to prevent firearm deaths can be found without encroaching on the rights of legitimate gun owners.”

A bill currently in front of the Senate would authorize $10 million in annual funding specifically for research into gun violence, reversing the chilling effect of the Dickey Amendment.

What do you think?

Should the federal government authorize funding into gun violence as a necessary precursor to any potential changes in gun control policy?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Pixabay / Creative Commons )

RELATED READING:

• This Insidious, 20-Year-Old Rule Is Still Blocking Crucial Research on Gun Violence Today — Pop Sugar

• Does US really spend research dollars on massages for rabbits but not gun violence? — Politifact

• Inside the Federal Bureau Of Way Too Many Guns — GQ