Perry lecture zeros in on gun violence

[billh58]

To solve America’s problem with gun violence, look no further than how the U.S. has curbed motor vehicle fatalities through increased safety measures and stricter legislation.

That’s according to Sandro Galea, Robert A. Knox Professor and dean of the Boston University School of Public Health. Galea was the keynote speaker for the School of Public Health and Health Professions’ 28th annual J. Warren Perry Lecture, held Friday afternoon in the Butler Auditorium in Farber Hall, South Campus.

An epidemiologist and a physician, Galea focuses his research largely on trauma. He is an expert on gun violence who has been quoted widely in national media outlets in recent years as mass shooting incidents have embroiled the country in a debate about gun violence and gun laws.

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“Our attention on mental illness is a red herring,” he said, pointing out that America still needs to vastly improve how it serves the needs of people with mental illness. But, he added, “The narrative that says mental illness is the cause of the firearm epidemic is simply wrong.”

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/stories/2016/11/perry-lecture-gun-violence.html

Professor Galea goes on to point out that "the death rate from firearms has remained relatively flat since 1999, but injuries have increased as improvements have been made in treating people with gun injuries." Bottom line: gun violence levels remain the same, but more people are surviving due to advance in emergency medical procedures.

The gun violence epidemic has not abated as the right-wing gun lobby and its apologists claim, but has remained the same over the years, as automobile deaths have declined. Professor Galea noted that: “We have not stopped car manufacturers from selling cars. We have not stopped driving cars,” he said. “What we have done is mitigated the consequences of the motor vehicle epidemic. We’ve done that through seat belts, through air bags, drunk driving legislation, through stricter, more careful, more thoughtful enforcement. Which shows that it actually can be done, and it can be done in a way that preserves the cultural positioning of a particular product, but also saves the health of populations.”

We can address the public health issue of gun violence, and the gun control movement is making inroads at doing so at the local level. Pitch in and support a reduction in gun violence in your community in any way that you can.

[flamin lib]

1. This is so obvious.

If gun injuries from misuse, children having access, 'accidents' and theft could be eliminated the issue would fade to insignificance. If gun injuries from attempted and completed suicide could be diminished it would further fade the issue.

These things can be done.

Safe storage laws, smart guns and reasonable education of sales staff to recognize straw purchases and suicidal customers could go a long way.

The people who know most about guns are best equipped to make useful suggestions and workable legislation. Sadly the gunners have bought into the gun lobby lies and can't/won't be dissuaded from demanding all guns all places all the time.