The federal government has not taken steps to reduce gun violence in the U.S., even after a spate of mass shootings. But other entities—such as state governments, foundations, and corporations—may be spurred to take action, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s David Hemenway.
“If you look at other developed countries, it’s typically when they have mass shootings—as occurred in Australia and in Scotland—that people start to think about all aspects of the gun problem and to do something,” said Hemenway, professor of health policy, in a September 11, 2019 interview on the radio program “Detroit Today.”
After recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods removed certain types of guns from their stores. Hemenway said there are plenty of other entities that could take action, including health care providers, the faith community, insurers, Hollywood, reporters, unions, firearm manufacturers, and gun trainers.
“The public health approach is that everyone agrees we have a big societal problem, and to step back and think, ‘What can everybody do?’” he said.
Listen to the “Detroit Today” interview: A Harvard Public Health Expert Weighs In On Gun Violence
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