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Jun 13, 2018

American Medical Association endorses gun control

Sam Baker
Anti gun violence rally on the Art Museum steps, in Philadelphia.

Anti-gun violence rally on the Art Museum steps, in Philadelphia. Photo: Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The American Medical Association has formally — and overwhelmingly — endorsed a slate of gun control measures, calling gun violence a public health crisis.

Why it matters: The AMA isn’t as powerful as it once was. But in the uphill climb to frame gun violence as a public health issue, having the AMA on board certainly can’t hurt.

According to AP, the policies the AMA endorsed at its annual policy meeting yesterday include:

  • Banning gun sales to people younger than 21.
  • Requiring safety training along with licensing and registration.
  • Expanding limits on gun ownership — for example, allowing families of potentially suicidal people to seek a court order removing guns from their possession.
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