A message from our Executive Director on gun violence

OPHA Members and Partners,

It is with a heavy heart that I am writing today. The last two weeks have again brought us tragic headlines of preventable death from gun violence.  These headlines have become all too familiar, but remain shocking and devastating.  OPHA through its members and staff have been working to reduce gun violence for many years.   Sadly, gun violence will be difficult to fully eradicate in the U.S., but there are real actions we can take that can reduce death and injury from firearms.  These deaths are largely preventable.  If you are ready to take action to reduce gun violence and injury, join us today.  Become an active member of our Health Policy and Advocacy Committee or join one of our Sections to create learning and education opportunities.  Members help draft testimony on legislation and local initiatives on behalf of OPHA, but also submit on their own as members.  Sections organize discussion and learning opportunities.  OPHA is a platform for advocacy, education, and learning and we invite you to get involved.
 
We take a public health approach to our work on gun violence because it is a public health issue.  Firearms became the leading cause of death for children and young adults in America for the first time in 2020.  Overall, the CDC reports that 45,222 Americans died by firearm in 2020, a new peak.  We support research for policy assessment and interventions that bring evidence to the discussion.  Every year, OPHA joins the American Public Health Association (APHA), other APHA affiliates, and leading health organizations in advocating for federal funding for research on gun violence prevention.  We do this because in 1996, Congress began including "the Dickey Amendment" in its appropriation legislation to fund the CDC and it was extended to the NIH in 2011.  This amendment created a severe chilling effect and reduction of gun violence prevention research.  While evidence is an essential part of making change, it is not enough. We've also created forums for discussion and shared approaches at our annual conference.  2018 conference keynote speaker, Catherine Barber, Director of Means Matter and Senior Researcher, Harvard School of Public Health's Injury Research Center spoke about partnership, communication with community, and new approaches to reducing suicide particularly in rural areas.  Her keynote begins at minute 23.5.
 
Members and I have brought the public health approach to this issue at roundtable discussions with Senator Ron Wyden, law enforcement, and other advocacy groups.  We partner with organizations across Oregon that champion legislation to reduce death and injury from firearms.  Review our advocacy efforts over time.  We also work to address underlying causes that lead to violence such as racism, substance abuse, mental health disorders, access to health care including for mental health, and emerging evidence such as linking heat events to increased violence.
 
We invite you to join us today in continuing our actions to reduce firearm injury and death in Oregon.

 In health,

Jessica Nischik-Long, MPH (she/her)
OPHA Executive Director