Write an essay Addressing Contemporary Public Health Issues in the United States.

Assignment Question

Although the United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, it is far from being the healthiest. Life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, but Americans have shorter lifespans and experience more illness than people in other high-income countries. This assignment gives you an opportunity to put together what you have learned in this course, including, but not limited to: public health policy, policymaking process, and law; public health and the legal system; individual and human rights in public health; and social justice, ethics and public health policy. Choose a contemporary public health issue (e.g., bioterrorism, gun violence, or natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires), its impact on public health, and strategies for mitigating and managing it once the issue occurs.   You will present this work to a team of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials tasked with developing global policies for addressing the impact of contemporary public health issues around the world. Your presentation should assess: The human rights concerns associated with the selected issues in public health policy, The conflicts of interest between public health policies and your selected emerging public health issue, and The gaps in the current health law that apply to the contemporary public health concern you selected with recommended suitable policy interventions to address the selected contemporary public health issue. A relevant policy evaluation model you can employ to determine the best possible policy solution to the human rights concern

Assignment Answer

Addressing Contemporary Public Health Issues in the United States: A Policy Analysis

Introduction

The United States is often regarded as one of the wealthiest nations in the world, with a robust economy and advanced healthcare system. However, despite these attributes, it faces significant challenges in public health. Life expectancy and health outcomes in the United States have improved over the past century, but they still lag behind those of other high-income countries. This essay examines a contemporary public health issue in the United States, its impact on public health, strategies for mitigation and management, human rights concerns, conflicts of interest, gaps in current health law, and policy interventions to address the issue. The chosen issue for analysis is gun violence.

Gun Violence as a Contemporary Public Health Issue

Gun violence is a pressing public health concern in the United States. It includes incidents of firearm-related injuries and fatalities, both intentional (such as homicides and suicides) and unintentional (such as accidents). The impact of gun violence on public health is profound and far-reaching, affecting individuals, families, communities, and the nation as a whole. Gun violence leads to not only physical harm but also psychological and emotional trauma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in recent years, there have been over 30,000 deaths annually due to gun violence in the United States, making it a leading cause of death and injury (CDC, 2021).

Human Rights Concerns in Gun Violence

The issue of gun violence raises several human rights concerns, including the right to life, safety, and security. The right to life is a fundamental human right, enshrined in numerous international agreements and treaties, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Gun violence infringes upon this right by causing unnecessary and preventable deaths. Victims of gun violence, whether through homicides or suicides, are denied their right to life, and their families and communities suffer the consequences.

Additionally, the right to safety and security is compromised in a society plagued by gun violence. People have the right to live in an environment free from fear and danger, but gun violence creates a pervasive atmosphere of insecurity. This affects not only those directly impacted by gun violence but also the broader community. The fear of gun violence can limit individuals’ freedom of movement and their ability to participate fully in social and economic activities.

Furthermore, the right to health is also at risk due to gun violence. Injured individuals often require immediate medical attention, and the strain on healthcare resources can impact the overall healthcare system’s ability to provide timely and effective care to all. In this sense, gun violence has implications for the equitable distribution of healthcare resources, potentially violating the right to health.

Conflicts of Interest in Addressing Gun Violence

Addressing gun violence in the United States is a complex and contentious issue due to various conflicts of interest. One of the primary conflicts of interest is the tension between the right to bear arms, as protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the need to regulate firearms to prevent gun violence. The Second Amendment has historically been interpreted as granting individuals the right to possess firearms, and this interpretation is deeply ingrained in American culture.

As a result, attempts to implement stricter gun control measures often face strong opposition from advocacy groups and individuals who argue that such measures infringe upon their constitutional rights. This conflict between individual rights and public safety interests has made it challenging to enact comprehensive gun control policies at the federal level.

Another conflict of interest is the influence of the gun lobby, particularly the National Rifle Association (NRA), in shaping gun policy in the United States. The NRA and other pro-gun organizations wield significant political power and financial resources, which they use to lobby against gun control legislation. Their financial contributions to political campaigns and their grassroots mobilization efforts make it difficult for lawmakers to support gun control measures without risking electoral consequences.

Gaps in Current Health Law Pertaining to Gun Violence

The current legal framework in the United States has several gaps and limitations when it comes to addressing gun violence as a public health issue. Some of these gaps include:

1. Lack of Comprehensive Federal Legislation: The absence of comprehensive federal legislation regulating firearms has resulted in a patchwork of state-level laws, leading to disparities in gun access and control across the country. This lack of uniformity hinders effective gun violence prevention efforts.
2. Limited Research Funding: The Dickey Amendment, passed in 1996, effectively restricted the use of federal funds for research on gun violence prevention. This limitation has impeded the collection of vital data and evidence necessary for evidence-based policymaking.
3. Background Check Loopholes: Gaps in the federal background check system, such as private sales and gun show purchases, allow individuals to acquire firearms without undergoing thorough background checks, potentially enabling those with dangerous histories to obtain guns.
4. Lack of Red Flag Laws: While some states have implemented “red flag” laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others, there is no federal law mandating the adoption of such measures nationwide.
5. Limited Regulation of Firearms Dealers: The regulation of firearms dealers varies from state to state, with some states imposing minimal requirements for licensing and oversight. This lack of uniform regulation can facilitate illegal gun trafficking.

Recommended Policy Interventions

To address the human rights concerns associated with gun violence, mitigate conflicts of interest, and fill the gaps in current health law, a comprehensive set of policy interventions is needed. These interventions should prioritize public safety while respecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The following recommendations can serve as a foundation for effective gun violence prevention policies:

1. Universal Background Checks: Implement comprehensive and mandatory background checks for all gun sales, including private sales and transfers, to prevent individuals with a history of violence or mental illness from acquiring firearms.
2. Closing the “Gun Show” Loophole: Enforce regulations that eliminate the exemption of gun show sales from background checks, ensuring that all firearm transactions are subject to the same scrutiny.
3. Red Flag Laws: Encourage states to adopt “red flag” laws that allow family members, law enforcement, or healthcare professionals to petition the courts for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others.
4. Assault Weapons Ban: Reintroduce and pass federal legislation to ban the sale and possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, while allowing for the voluntary buyback of such firearms.
5. Improved Data Collection and Research: Allocate federal funding to support research on gun violence prevention and its impact on public health, repealing restrictions on research imposed by the Dickey Amendment.
6. Safe Storage Requirements: Enforce laws that require secure firearm storage to prevent unauthorized access, particularly in households with children or individuals at risk of self-harm.
7. Mandatory Waiting Periods: Institute mandatory waiting periods for firearm purchases to provide additional time for background checks and to reduce impulsive acts of violence.
8. Gun Dealer Regulations: Strengthen federal regulations and oversight of firearms dealers, including increased reporting requirements and background checks for employees.
9. Community-Based Violence Intervention Programs: Invest in evidence-based community programs that aim to interrupt cycles of violence, provide support to at-risk individuals, and mediate conflicts before they escalate to gun violence.
10. Public Education and Awareness: Develop and implement public education campaigns on responsible gun ownership, safe storage practices, and the warning signs of potential gun violence.

Policy Evaluation Model

To determine the best possible policy solution to the human rights concerns associated with gun violence, a policy evaluation model can be employed. One such model is the Health Impact Assessment (HIA), which is a systematic process that assesses the potential health effects of a policy, program, or project before it is implemented. The HIA can be adapted to evaluate proposed gun violence prevention policies and their impact on public health, human rights, and conflicts of interest.

The steps of the HIA process include:

1. Screening: Identify and select the proposed gun violence prevention policy for assessment. This step involves defining the scope of the assessment and determining the relevant stakeholders and decision-makers.
2. Scoping: Define the key objectives of the HIA and outline the methods and data sources to be used. Identify potential health and human rights impacts, as well as conflicts of interest that may arise.
3. Assessment: Collect and analyze data on the current state of gun violence, the effectiveness of existing policies, and the potential impact of the proposed policy. Consider the impact on different populations, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups.
4. Recommendations: Based on the assessment, provide recommendations for modifying the proposed policy to maximize its public health benefits while minimizing human rights concerns and conflicts of interest.
5. Reporting: Communicate the findings and recommendations to policymakers, stakeholders, and the public through clear and transparent reporting.
6. Monitoring and Follow-Up: Implement a system for monitoring the policy’s impact on public health and human rights over time. Adjust the policy as needed to address any unforeseen consequences or challenges.

Conclusion

Gun violence in the United States is a significant contemporary public health issue with far-reaching implications for human rights, public safety, and the overall well-being of the population. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that balances the protection of Second Amendment rights with the imperative to reduce the harm caused by firearms. Policy interventions such as universal background checks, red flag laws, and assault weapons bans can play a crucial role in mitigating gun violence while respecting individual liberties.

To determine the most effective policy solutions, a comprehensive evaluation process like the Health Impact Assessment can be employed. This model allows for a systematic analysis of the proposed policies’ impact on public health, human rights, and conflicts of interest, ensuring that the chosen interventions maximize benefits while minimizing harm.

Ultimately, addressing gun violence in the United States is a moral imperative and a public health necessity. By implementing evidence-based policies and considering the complex web of factors surrounding this issue, the nation can take meaningful steps toward reducing the toll of gun violence and safeguarding the fundamental human rights and safety of its citizens.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS).

Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948). United Nations.

Dickey Amendment, Pub. L. No. 104-208, § 657, 110 Stat. 3009 (1996).