Safe Families and Communities Overview It's tough to feel safe in America these days. Violence takes many forms. Some is related to the use of firearms. Some stems from alcohol and substance abuse. (See Building Healthy Communities for information on alcohol and substance abuse.) Some occurs in the context of domestic and child abuse. And, sometimes, all three elements are intertwined. Currently, more than 35,000 Americans a year die from firearm injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's far more – on a per-capita basis – than most other countries. Violence seems to gall us particularly when it involves children. The numbers explain why. In 1994, gun deaths were the third leading cause of death for children aged 5-14. If current trends continue, firearm injuries will become the leading cause of death to children by the year 2003, the Centers for Disease Control predicted in 1994. Traditionally, gun-related violence has been viewed as a criminal justice problem. But, in the early 1980s, health professionals and public health advocates began seeing violence as a health issue. Among those concerned are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and many Schools of Public Health within universities. By 1994, Dr. George D. Lundberg, a forensic pathologist and editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, toldThe Washington Post , "There's no question now that violence is a public health issue." In addition, a growing number of national organizations sprung up. Links to these groups are listed below. Groups also formed in many states. These organizations use various strategies. Some lobby to change firearms laws and policies. Some work to raise public awareness of the damage done by guns. Still others conduct gun-related research. At the same time, such long-standing groups as the National Rifle Association, the firearms industries and others have steadfastly opposed most changes in laws sought by gun violence prevention advocates. Recently, a researcher, John R. Lott Jr., has supported the firearms industry's point of view. A University of Chicago professor, Lott argues in his book, More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, that more guns mean less crime. . No matter what your views are on violence and guns, you should be familiar with Lott's research, his critics' counterarguments and some of his other controversial views. Lott explains his views on the web site of his publisher, the University of Chicago Press. In recent years, however, new gun laws have been enacted at the local, state and national levels. Congress passed the 1993 Brady Law, which imposes a five-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, and the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban, which outlaws 19 assault-style weapons. In July of 1997, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the background check clause in the Brady Bill. And lately, gun control advocates have taken a new tack, arguing that guns should be regulated as a consumer product. Currently, firearms are virtually unregulated. No federal agency has the authority to ensure firearms are safe for their intended use. And, as the Violence Policy Center, one gun control advocate, notes, “No entity has the authority to prohibit the manufacture or sale of firearms technology that poses a significant threat to public safety.” The center offers a variety of regulatory steps that could be taken. Violence often comes into play in domestic abuse. Here again, easy access to guns, along with substance abuse often leads to death and injuries. A variety of possible interventions could help. Violence, of course, does not take place in a vacuum. In American culture, violence is often condoned if the use of violence as depicted in the popular media is any indication. Some researchers have even identified community risk factors that lead to violence. General Principles
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