Not Enough Funding for Research
Not Enough Funding for Research
What is the problem?
Though more than 40,000 people are killed with guns in the U.S. every year, Congress has restricted research on the causes and impacts of gun violence. Research on gun violence could lead to the development of life-saving scientific and policy solutions.
Since the passing of a Congressional budget restriction known as the Dickey Amendment in 1996, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have severely underfunded gun violence research. In 2019 and 2020, for the first time in decades, Congress passed a funding bill each year that appropriated $25 million for gun violence research. Additional funding is still needed to investigate its causes and develop solutions.
Featured Resources
The Economic Cost of Gun Violence
Federal, state, and local governments are spending a combined average of $34.8 million each day to deal with the aftermath of gun violence.
A More Complete Picture: The Contours of Gun Injury in the United States
Nonfatal gunshot wounds account for an enormous portion of the gun violence epidemic in America.
Firearm Suicide By Congressional District
There are 52 firearm suicides on average per congressional district each year, yet there is district-level variation across the country.
Why Funding Gun Violence Research Matters
Gun violence is a public health crisis in America, and there is a demonstrated need for additional research to guide policy-making.