CMR’s role in gun laws

In her email letter to constituents on March 18, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers cites her role in the passage of the STOP School Violence Act. She touts the fact that the act includes funds for “evidence-based training to prevent student violence …” and “evidence-based technology and equipment …”

Unfortunately, one source of evidence-based information is not available, due to its prohibition by Congress. The Dickey Amendment attached to the 1996 budget authorization bill essentially prohibited research into gun-related violence, injuries and deaths by the federal Centers for Disease Control. This legislation was strongly supported by the NRA. What exactly were they afraid the American public would learn from research by this prestigious institute?

While Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers was not in the House in 1996, she has held a leadership role for many budget authorization votes which have included the Dickey Amendment, including the one in the fall of 2015 which extended it over the objection of at least 100 congresspeople.

I respectfully request the congresswoman explain why she supports stifling research into the deaths or injury of well over 100,000 Americans each year. What does she not want us to know?

Bernard Sheldon

Spokane