The American Public Health Association announced March 6 that it would open access to its published research papers, commentaries and analyses on public health and firearms.

Typically access to the association's American Journal of Public Health requires a subscription or payment for an individual article. But in a statement, the group said that given the current national debate about gun violence, "APHA believes better public access to published, peer-reviewed research on firearms can lead to smarter evidence-based policies that enhance firearm safety and violence prevention."

"With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention functionally barred from conducting meaningful research on firearm violence by Congress, the public health community is stepping up to fill the knowledge gap," said Alfredo Morabia, editor-in-chief of AJPH.

"AJPH has published some of the finest cutting-edge research on firearm safety and violence, and we're proud to offer these insights to the research community, elected officials, advocates for violence prevention and journalists," he added.

The Dickey Amendment, passed by Congress in 1996 as part of a spending bill, prohibited the CDC from using funds to advocate for gun control. Lawmakers have since interpreted the language as barring any research into the causes and possible solutions for gun violence, with public health advocates saying the amendment has prevented the U.S. from collecting valuable data that could inform gun control debates. Several medical and science groups have urged Congress to repeal to Dickey Amendment, but so far lawmakers have resisted those calls.

"Too many calls for reducing firearm violence in our communities are met with thoughts and prayers, followed by inaction and excuses that we don't know enough," APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin said, adding, "We know enough from decades of published research to be sure that a sound public health approach can reduce death and injury from firearms."

AJPH articles on public health and firearms can be read online at http://bit.ly/2tlTI5V

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