Chicago’s handgun ban: A 2nd Amendment issue? A public health issue?

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Most Americans may not be looking at Chicago’s ban on handguns through a health and medical prism. But the American Public Health Assn. is.

With the challenge to the law now before the U.S. Supreme Court, the association has weighed in, coming down strongly on the side of ...

(Do you have to ask?)

Here’s an excerpt from the organization’s statement about its recent friend-of-the-court brief:

‘APHA has long supported comprehensive measures to reduce and prevent premature injury and death from handguns, including limiting access to handguns, creating a national database to facilitate research on handgun-related fatalities and developing community- and school-based programs targeting the prevention of handgun injuries, suicides, homicides and assaults.’

And here’s a previous L.A. Times story on the case that explains how this 2nd Amendment and public-health issue can affect a community near you. It begins:

‘The Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday to hear a 2nd Amendment challenge to Chicago’s handgun ban could open the door to similar lawsuits in cities and states across the nation.’

For a related editorial, also from the L.A. Times, click here. And, if you’re so inclined, some explainers of ‘friend-of-the-court brief’ and docket information on McDonald vs. Chicago.

-- Tami Dennis