House bill would help develop evidence-based solutions to address gun violence

Legislation introduced Monday would provide evidence-based solutions to gun violence nationwide.

The Gun Safety Board and Research Act establishes a board responsible for conducting research aimed at reducing gun violence and evaluating federal and state policy proposals to identify gaps in gun violence research that should be filled. It also would recommend best practices for reducing gun violence and provide grants to conduct additional research and educate the public.

The board, which would be housed at the Department of Health and Human Services, would have an annual budget of $25 million.

“If you have a health problem, you want a doctor to use research – not just an opinion – to treat it. The same kind of approach should be used to tackle the public health epidemic of gun violence,” Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), who introduced the bill, said. “Creating a way to re-introduce quality research into the gun violence prevention debate will help us rise above partisan politics and get to the roots of the problem.”

The board would be composed of members from federal agencies, gun manufacturers, victim advocates, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, health care and public health, and research.

DeSaulnier is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.