News

Indiana University student panel examines merits of treating gun violence as public health issue

Monday, February 26, 2024
Fox59 Morning News

Indiana University’s Students Demand Action may have a proactive name and a dedicated mission, but it was seeking guidance on how to get its message across during a panel discussion Sunday. Paul Helmke, a former Fort Wayne mayor and ex-president & CEO of the Brady Center/Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, led the panel exploring the potential of approaching gun violence reduction as a public health issue like attacking COVID or influenza outbreaks. ”We try to analyze ‘why is this happening? What are the causes of it? What are some of the solutions?’ We don’t look at gun violence that way,” Helmke said. “Usually, we say there is nothing we can do about it, so we step away. But if we started to treat gun violence like a public health issue, ‘What are the causes, what are the possible solutions,’ there’s no way we’re gonna end it all, but there are things we can do to make the problem less. That’s the approach we should be taking.” 

American Institutes for Research

U.S. Department of Education

The contents of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Web site were assembled under contracts from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Supportive Schools to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Contract Number  91990021A0020.

This Web site is operated and maintained by AIR. The contents of this Web site do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education nor do they imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.

©2024 American Institutes for Research — Disclaimer   |   Privacy Policy   |   Accessibility Statement