Congress reached a deal ending a two-decade freeze on gun violence research

SEATTLE, WA – The Alliance for Gun Responsibility is celebrating reports that a bipartisan spending deal in Congress will include $25 million in federal funding for gun violence research, breaking a two-decade ban. 

Federal agencies have been effectively prohibited from conducting any research into gun violence since the so-called Dicky Amendment was passed in 1996. In the midst of the effective ban, Washington state led the way in fighting for local funding into the epidemic. Most recently, during the 2019 session, the state legislature allocated $1 million in funding for research into gun violence. 

“This is a huge victory in the fight to prevent gun violence,” said Renée Hopkins, CEO of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “We are glad to see Washington, DC following this Washington’s lead in allocating much-needed funding for research into gun violence. It is long past time that our congressional leaders put the health and safety of the American people over the interests of the gun lobby. Accurate research and data are key to addressing gun violence as a public health crisis and this $25 million investment is a great starting point.”