Fund gun violence research, McConnell

Sen. Mitch McConnell was quoted as saying “I don't think at the federal level there's much we can do other than appropriate funds” to prevent school shootings.

First, some Parkland high school students support measures Congress can act on, including universal background checks, banning automatic gun sales and upping the legal gun purchase age to 21.

Second, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appears to be the appropriate federal agency to investigate the public health epidemic of gun violence.

But 1997 legislation barred the CDC from using funds earmarked for injury prevention and control to advocate or promote gun control.

The center isn’t explicitly forbidden to research gun violence, but as one doctor said, “no federal employee was willing to risk his or her career or the agency's funding to find out” what was permitted.

So, senator, let’s “appropriate funds” to research gun violence and start saving lives.