24 Firearms injury research, in comparison, receives just $2 million per year or just $2.70 per year of potential life lost, less than the cost of a latte. Without

research, claims about the efficacy of existing, former, or proposed legislation are Dabrafenib in vivo based on anecdote or conjecture. These data are desperately needed. A promising research tool to help understand the circumstances of violent death is the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), initially funded by Congress in 2002.25 This system, modeled after the highly successful Fatal Accident Reporting System for motor-vehicle crashes, has been functional in just 18 states. Lack of funding has limited its full implementation, which has in turn limited our understanding of gun violence and its causes. Correct categorization of firearm deaths (determining learn more unintentional from potentially self-inflicted or vice versa) is not always possible and frequently inaccurate. The NVDRS data-collection methodology is far more robust than other existing repositories and can help clarify many of these potentially misclassified firearm deaths.26 In 2004, a blue-ribbon panel was convened by the National Academy of Science to study the state of firearms research.27 The authors noted that “Adequate data and research are essential to judge

both the effects of firearms on violence and the effects of different violence control policies.” And “…many of the shortcomings

described in this report stem from the lack of reliable data itself rather than the weakness of methods.” The panel concluded, “…if policy makers are to have a solid empirical and research base for decisions about very firearms and violence, the federal government needs to support a systematic program of data collection and research that specifically addresses that issue.” The panel also renewed their support for the “development and maintenance of NVDRS.” APSA recommends removal of language limiting the funding of firearms-related research necessary to address this public health problem as well as support to extend the NVDRS to all states and territories. On October 2, 2006, Charles Roberts barricaded himself and 10 girls, ages 6 to 13 years, in a one-room schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, the heart of Amish country. Before the ordeal ended, he would shoot all 10 girls “execution style” and then himself. Eight girls survived long enough to receive medical treatment, 5 girls survived to discharge from the hospital. On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza forcibly entered Sandy Hook Elementary School and murdered 26 people, including 20 children. Not one child survived to receive medical treatment. One difference between the 2 incidents was that Charles Roberts in Nickel Mines used a 9-mm handgun; Adam Lanza chose an assault-style rifle at Sandy Hook.