President Obama Unveils Executive Actions To Combat Gun Violence

Obama: New Rules Will “Reduce Gun Violence Consistent With The Second Amendment.” At a January 5 press conference, President Obama announced new executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence and enforcing existing gun safety laws, including “expanding background checks” and “protect[ing] victims of domestic abuse from gun violence”:

Now, I want to be absolutely clear at the start -- and I've said this over and over again, this also becomes routine, there is a ritual about this whole thing that I have to do -- I believe in the Second Amendment.  It's there written on the paper.  It guarantees a right to bear arms.  No matter how many times people try to twist my words around -- I taught constitutional law, I know a little about this -- (applause) -- I get it.  But I also believe that we can find ways to reduce gun violence consistent with the Second Amendment.

[...] 

Number one, anybody in the business of selling firearms must get a license and conduct background checks, or be subject to criminal prosecutions.  (Applause.)  It doesn't matter whether you're doing it over the Internet or at a gun show.  It's not where you do it, but what you do.

We're also expanding background checks to cover violent criminals who try to buy some of the most dangerous firearms by hiding behind trusts and corporations and various cutouts.

We're also taking steps to make the background check system more efficient.  Under the guidance of Jim Comey and the FBI, our Deputy Director Tom Brandon at ATF, we're going to hire more folks to process applications faster, and we're going to bring an outdated background check system into the 21st century.  (Applause.)

And these steps will actually lead to a smoother process for law-abiding gun owners, a smoother process for responsible gun dealers, a stronger process for protecting the people from -- the public from dangerous people.  So that's number one.

Number two, we're going to do everything we can to ensure the smart and effective enforcement of gun safety laws that are already on the books, which means we're going to add 200 more ATF agents and investigators.  We're going to require firearms dealers to report more lost or stolen guns on a timely basis. We're working with advocates to protect victims of domestic abuse from gun violence, where too often -- (applause) -- where too often, people are not getting the protection that they need.

Number three, we're going to do more to help those suffering from mental illness get the help that they need.  (Applause.)  High-profile mass shootings tend to shine a light on those few mentally unstable people who inflict harm on others.  But the truth is, is that nearly two in three gun deaths are from suicides.  So a lot of our work is to prevent people from hurting themselves. [White House, 1/5/16]

Bill O'Reilly Claims “There Is Not A Gun Crime Epidemic” In America

O'Reilly: “More Than 8,000 People Were Victims” Of Gun Violence In 2014 ... But It Is “Not An Epidemic.” On the January 5 edition of The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Reilly downplayed gun violence in America, claiming that the “more than 8,000 people” killed by guns in 2014 did not amount to “a gun crime epidemic.” O'Reilly further said that “the vast majority of these heinous crimes are committed by hardcore criminals, not civilian shooters,” before claiming that there was also “not an epidemic” for terrorist-related shootings:

BILL O'REILLY (HOST): Mr. Obama is obviously sincere in his quest for more public safety, but he is missing the big picture. According to the latest FBI stats, slightly more than 8,000 people were victims of firearm murders in 2014. There were 118,000 robberies involving a firearm. And almost 150,000 aggravated assaults involving guns. The population of the U.S.A. is approaching 330 million. So you can see there is not a gun crime epidemic. And the vast majority of these heinous crimes are committed by hardcore criminals, not civilian shooters. Right now, there are more than 300 million firearms in America. And they're currently all over the place. So there will be a thriving black market for guns no matter what kind of registration laws are passed. As far as terrorist related firearm killings in the U.S.A.? There have been 88 deaths in the past 10 years by armed terrorists. Not an epidemic. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 1/5/16]

Public Health Experts Agree That Gun Violence Is An Epidemic

National Physicians Alliance: “Gun Violence Is A Public Health Issue That Has Reached Epidemic Proportions.” In a February 2013 policy statement, the National Physicians Alliance (NPA) wrote that “gun violence is indisputably an issue of health,” and further explained that it is “a public health issue that has reached epidemic proportions” (emphasis original):

Patients have long trusted physicians to advise them on more than short-term clinical needs. This relationship of trust is of such importance that many look to the profession to guide policy-makers on health threats to the American public. Patients expect physicians to work within the science and evidence base to support policies that protect the health of the public.

Gun violence is a public health issue that has reached epidemic proportions in this country, affecting our patients, our neighbors, our communities--indeed all Americans: “The Newtown tragedy is galvanizing a national understanding of the pervasive threats that guns pose and the toll they take.”

Improving access to mental health care services and establishing true mental health parity are important and necessary aims in response to our gun violence epidemic, but policy-makers should not confuse or substitute proposals in this area for additional evidence-based and urgently needed gun violence prevention measures.

Gun violence is indisputably an issue of health, where science and evidence must guide policy. [National Physicians Alliance, February 2013]

Public Health Expert: “Gun Violence Is A Public Health Epidemic.” In a December, 2015 article, public health doctor and medical director of the New York State Office of Mental Health Lloyd Sederer wrote “the mass murders infesting our country now behave like an epidemic” and that “for the gun violence epidemic upon us, the deadly agents are guns and ammunition meant for war, not for a civil society”:

The now daily onslaught of violence in the United States is not a big-city, medium-city or small-town event. The incessant murders that have dominated this country's attention happen at work and school, at play, public and faith-based settings. The slain are children, adults and seniors. They are of every color and faith. Like a deadly infectious disease, the pathogen does not distinguish who will die; when that pathogen reaches epidemic proportions, everyone is exposed and no one is safe.

We face a choice between devolving into a culture of fear, blame, prejudice and enduring violence or mobilizing nationally, across diverse interests and communities, to reduce the risk of mass violence to innocent strangers, with all of us as the potential targets.

There are solutions to gun violence that exist beyond the polarizing rhetoric of constitutional rights. We have, in the past, regularly and reasonably limited the rights of privacy and liberty for public safety and survival. When tuberculosis was spreading in the mid- and late 20th century and exacting its morbid and lethal toll on Americans, public health regulations required reporting of those with the disease (those hosting the pathogen), subordinating privacy to public safety and requiring that those infected take so-called directly observed treatment or be involuntarily remanded to TB facilities, overriding their liberties. I am a public health doctor, and more than a century of public health lessons show us that an epidemic that threatens deaths on a large scale can be contained and overcome.

The mass murders infesting our country now behave like an epidemic. They are infectious, in that they tend to spread, know few boundaries (unless we create them) and weaken with reduced exposure to the agent that takes the lives of its victims. For the gun violence epidemic upon us, the deadly agents are guns and ammunition meant for war, not for a civil society. Some may say it is the people who wield the weapons that are the danger. Yet to the extent that is true, the gravest consequences of their actions can be measured by the lethality of what they used to kill, their weapons, not just that they tried to kill. [U.S. News and World Report, 12/7/15]

Doctors For America: “Gun Violence Is A Public Health Problem.” Over 2,000 physicians signed a December, 2015 petition to Congress to end the ban on gun violence research. In the petition, Executive Director of Doctors for America Dr. Alice Chen noted that “gun violence is a public health problem that kills 90 Americans a day,” and implored politicians to pass common-sense gun safety legislation. In a December 2 press release, Dr. Chen and over 2,000 other doctors urged “Congress to put patients over politics to help find solutions to our Nation's gun violence crisis”:

Washington, DC - Physicians with Doctors for America joined the National Physicians Alliance, Doctors Council, American Medical Women's Association, American College of Preventive Medicine, The Committee of Interns and Residents, Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence, American Medical Student Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and special guests Reps. David Price, Nita Lowey, Mike Thompson, Robin Kelly and Mike Quigley to urge Congress to end the effective ban on the ability for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research on gun violence.

Over 2,000 doctors in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia signed a petition urging Congress to remove these barriers to common sense research that have existed for nearly 20 years and include annual funding to identify causes and ways to prevent gun violence.“Gun violence is a public health problem that kills 90 Americans a day,” said Dr. Alice Chen, Executive Director of Doctors for America. “Physicians believe it's time to lift this effective ban and fund the research needed to save lives. We urge Congress to put patients over politics to help find solutions to our Nation's gun violence crisis.”

Gun violence is among the most difficult public health challenges we face as a country, but because of the deeply misguided ban on research, we know very little about it," said Rep. David Price. “Regardless of where we stand in the debate over gun violence, we should all be able to agree that this debate should be informed by objective data and robust scientific research. I am pleased to join members of the medical community from around the country to call for the ban's repeal, which would allow for a more honest dialogue about possible solutions to the gun violence epidemic.” [Doctors for America, 12/2/15]

United States Surgeon General: “Gun Violence Is A Public Health Issue.” United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has repeatedly labeled gun violence as “a public health issue,” telling HuffPost Live, “whenever you have large numbers of people who are dying for preventable reasons, that constitutes a public health issue”:

 [Huffington Post, HuffPost Live, 9/15/15]

George Washington University Master Of Public Health Program: “We Must ... Ensure Real Change” To “America's Gun Violence Epidemic.” The George Washington University's Master of Public Health program released an infographic addressing “America's gun violence epidemic,” noting that “the availability of firearms” and the “nation's broken mental health care system” must both be remedied to “curb gun violence.” The infographic, which notes that from 2006-2010 there were “31,000 gun related deaths” and “156 mass killings” involving guns, implores political leaders to enforce and enhance “regulations for licensed firearm dealers ... and regulations for private sales”:

 [George Washington University, 3/19/14]