Enough is ENOUGH!!!
March 16, 2018
Dear Colleagues and Students:
Despite a third nor’easter blowing across the east coast mid-week, thousands of us walked out of our classrooms and offices from schools and universities around the world (CNN) to show our solidarity with the young high school advocates in Parkland, FL, who helped to organize the National School Walkout on Wednesday (New York Times). We did so to memorialize the 17 lives lost in just that one school shooting one month ago, and also to demonstrate our full-throated support for stronger gun laws and protections for our nation’s students.
As a Dean and long-time professor, I can personally say that I’m appalled by the current efforts by the NRA and some of our elected officials who have called for arming teachers to address this public health scourge. As was demonstrated on Tuesday when a Seaside, California, teacher - who is a gun-trained reserve police officer - discharged his gun unintentionally in his high school classroom (NPR), this idea will only result in more casualties.
Research can help guide the discussion, but for nearly two decades, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been unable to fund any studies related to firearm injuries or fatalities. NYU President Andrew Hamilton wrote eloquently in last Friday’s Washington Post on this issue in this opinion editorial, How Universities Can Arm Us for the Gun Debate.
Last month, Governors Cuomo (NY), Malloy (CT), Murphy (NJ) and Raimondo (RI) announced their plans for a States for Gun Safety Coalition. Part of the plans for this coalition include the establishment of the nation’s first Regional Research Gun Violence Coalition, to be “comprised of dedicated public health, social welfare, public policy and criminal justice experts who will share and examine data to better inform policymakers nationwide,” (New York State). In response, I invited the Deans from the Schools of Public Health in these four states to join me in a letter to these Governors, offering our collective expertise to them in this important effort.
And while research is key, it is long since time that we also agree on meaningful changes to our public policies on guns that will truly save lives. In the wake of the most recent Florida shootings, a law was passed and signed by the Governor there prohibiting anyone under 21 from purchasing guns, mandating a 3-day waiting period and banning “bump stocks.” This is not enough.
It failed to address what the NRA dubs “America’s Rifle” – the AR-15 assault rifle or variants to it – which were used at Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Texas, and in Parkland, Florida.
Our President momentarily talked tough about not being afraid of the NRA and championing an increase in the age to purchase AR-15s from 18 to 21 but, he has since reversed course (BBC).
But the winds of change are blowing, as seen in Pennsylvania this week, where Conor Lamb – a Democrat – defied the odds and won the special election there on Tuesday. Lamb is a conservative former Marine who describes himself as pro-gun, but he does support stronger background checks and mental health reform. That’s a start.
All this reminds me of Bob Dylan’s iconic 1964 protest song, The Times They Are a-Changin’ – in particular this verse:
“Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.”
In the interest of safety and saving lives, #ENOUGH.
Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH
Dean