A Change Must Come
May 25, 2018
Dear Colleagues and Students:
Here we are again with another mass shooting in a high school.
As we observe Memorial Day this holiday weekend and remember the brave Americans who have died while serving in the armed forces, it is important to recognize that “twice as many students have been killed in school shootings as have members of the military who were on deployment.” Washington Post
On Wednesday, the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, of which NYU GPH is a member, released its first policy brief, Can Mass Shootings Be Stopped? To Address the Problem, We Must Better Understand the Phenomenon.
I encourage you to read the brief by the Consortium, in which our own Jennifer Pomeranz is a participant. Not surprisingly its conclusions are complex.
Pictured Above: Cover of The Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium's first policy brief: Can Mass Shootings Be Stopped?
“Knee-jerk reactions rooted in emotion will not solve the problem. The evidence produced to date shows that the problem requires solutions that are versatile and grounded in evidence in order to be effective. Although mass shootings occur considerably less frequently than portrayed by the media, the findings are that they have increased over time. While some of our most populous states have experienced a majority of the mass shootings over time, there are states that have never had one. Schools and workplaces are more likely to be the site of a mass shooting and policy efforts should focus more intensely in those areas. Further, although common public perceptions of mass shootings include use of assault rifles, more than three-quarters of mass shootings actually involve handguns. Therefore, it is incumbent to find evidence-based solutions to this growing problem. Given the regional, demographic, and type of gun used data, a one-size-fits-all approach may not work — tailored solutions may work better depending on the state and the community.”
So as we mourn our fallen troops on Monday, let’s also remember the 36,000 Americans who are shot down each year — nearly 22,000 by their own hand — as well as the almost 75,000 who are injured or disabled annually. (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
I agree with Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, who voiced his frustration with a lack of responsible gun control measures by stating that, “We need to start using the ballot box and ballot initiatives to take the matter out of the hands of people that are doing nothing." (Newsweek)
We need to do better by our children and safeguard our entire population by passing responsible gun violence prevention laws.
Cheryl G. Healton,
Dean