Restoring Gun Research

by Stuart Shapiro

A few weeks ago, I posted about how the GOP, backed by the NRA, cut funding for federal research on the effect of gun ownership.  Well from my lips (yeah right) to the president’s ears, as this was one of the less publicized aspects of President Obama’s announcement on guns earlier this week.

In his executive order, Obama clarified that the Centers on Disease Control should go forward with research on “causes and prevention of gun violence.” In other words, stop being so timid. Conduct research on anything that’s not expressly forbidden by Congress — i.e., work that advocates gun control.

While CDC will still be limited, this will help.  Remember, as with any issue, the side that wants research to be done, is the one that is not afraid of the results of the research.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.