Local Gun Violence Reduction Act
Summary
The Local Gun Violence Reduction Act aims to establish a database within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect and disseminate information on local gun violence prevention laws and their effectiveness. This database would be populated by state and local governments, detailing their gun violence reduction ordinances and related data. The Secretary of HHS, through the CDC Director, would oversee the database and report to Congress biennially on its contents and usage. The Act authorizes appropriations of $1.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million annually thereafter.
Expected Effects
The Act would create a centralized repository of information on local gun violence prevention strategies. This could lead to better-informed policy decisions at the state and local levels. It may also foster collaboration and the adoption of successful strategies across different jurisdictions.
Potential Benefits
- Provides a centralized database for local governments to share information on gun violence prevention laws.
- Facilitates the identification of effective strategies for reducing gun violence.
- Encourages data-driven decision-making in gun violence prevention policy.
- Promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing among state and local governments.
- Increases awareness of different approaches to gun violence reduction.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Reliance on voluntary submissions from state and local governments may lead to incomplete data.
- The database's effectiveness depends on the quality and accuracy of the submitted information.
- Potential for political bias in the selection and presentation of data.
- The cost of establishing and maintaining the database could be a burden on taxpayers.
- No guarantee that the database will lead to a measurable reduction in gun violence.
Constitutional Alignment
The Act's focus on data collection and dissemination falls under Congress's power to promote the general welfare (Article I, Section 8). The Act does not directly infringe upon the Second Amendment, as it does not regulate gun ownership. However, the potential use of the data to inform gun control policies could raise Second Amendment concerns depending on how those policies are designed and implemented.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).