After Slew Of Victories Against Republicans With High NRA Ratings, Dems Feeling More Secure In Stance Against Guns
Speaking out on gun control issues used to be a gamble for all but the safest incumbents, but there seems to have been a shift in the atmosphere as of late. In other news: gun seizure laws, school shooters, and death rates.
The Wall Street Journal:
House Democrats Assess How Hard To Press Gun-Control Agenda
House Democrats are warming to gun-control legislation once considered risky for all but the safest incumbents, but remain uncertain whether they will vote this year on some of the more far-reaching bills. In a sign of the changing political climate around gun-safety legislation, some of the more vulnerable House Democrats, including those who just ousted GOP incumbents, said they would support a ban on assault-style weapons. For Democrats, such legislation has long been considered a gamble, with its potential to trigger the wrath of the National Rifle Association and voters swayed by the gun lobby. (Peterson, 2/10)
The Associated Press:
Gun-Seizure Laws Grow In Popularity Since Parkland Shooting
In the year since the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school, more and more states have passed laws making it easier to take guns away from people who may be suicidal or bent on violence against others, and courts are issuing an unprecedented number of seizure orders across the country. Supporters say these "red flag" laws are among the most promising tools to reduce the nearly 40,000 suicides and homicides by firearm each year in the U.S. Gun advocates, though, say such measures undermine their constitutional rights and can result in people being stripped of their weapons on false or vindictive accusations. (Foley, 2/9)
NPR:
School Shooters: Roots Of Violence Often Include Depression And Desperation
It's hard to empathize with someone who carries out a school shooting. The brutality of their crimes is unspeakable. Whether the shootings were at Columbine, at Sandy Hook, or in Parkland, they have traumatized students and communities across the U.S. Psychologist John Van Dreal understands that. He is the director of safety and risk management at Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Oregon, a state that has had its share of school shootings. In 2014, about 60 miles from Salem, where Van Dreal is based, a 15-year-old boy shot one student and a teacher at his high school before killing himself. (Chatterjee, 2/10)
St. Louis Public Radio:
Missouri Gun Death Rate Among Highest In The Nation, CDC Says
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rank Missouri sixth in U.S. for gun death rate, including intentional and accidental shootings. The CDC reports 1,307 Missourians died from gunshot wounds in 2017, an increase over the previous year.Laurie Punch, a trauma surgeon at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, considers gun violence a major threat to public health. (Farzan, 2/9)
