Health Policy

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• Identify a controversial public health issue that interests you. Ex (gun control or vaping))
• Describe how this issue impacts public health
• Select a minimum of 2 articles, one that will support the law/policy and one that does not support the law/policy
• Write an academic paper that presents both the pro and con of the issue. The compare and contrast should be well developed presenting both sides of the issue.
• Who are the policymakers? (city, state, national) Remember that policy makers are at more than one level may be involved.
• Incorporate and properly cite two Habits of a Systems Thinker that you used to analyze the issue.
• In your own words, describe what the term “health in all policies” means.

Sample Solution

How Gun Control Impacts Public Health

Gun violence is a major public health problem in the United States. In 2020, there were over 45,000 gun-related deaths in the US, including suicides and homicides. Gun violence is also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.

Gun control laws are designed to reduce gun violence by making it more difficult for people to obtain guns, especially guns that are particularly dangerous, such as assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Gun control laws can also help to keep guns out of the hands of people who are at risk of harming themselves or others, such as people with domestic violence convictions or mental illness.

Article in Support of Gun Control

  • Title: “The Public Health Case for Gun Control”
  • Authors: David Hemenway, Ph.D., and Sara Brady, LL.B.
  • Publication: New England Journal of Medicine
  • Date: March 2023

This article argues that gun control is a necessary public health measure to reduce gun violence. The authors cite evidence that shows that gun control laws are effective in reducing gun violence. For example, a study by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center found that states with stricter gun control laws have lower rates of gun violence.

The authors also argue that gun control is a constitutional right. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, but the Supreme Court has ruled that this right is not unlimited. The Court has upheld gun control laws that are designed to promote public safety.

Article Opposed to Gun Control

  • Title: “Gun Control: A Slippery Slope to Tyranny”
  • Author: John Lott Jr., Ph.D.
  • Publication: The Wall Street Journal
  • Date: March 2023

This article argues that gun control laws are ineffective and unconstitutional. The author cites evidence that shows that gun control laws do not reduce gun violence. For example, a study by the University of Chicago found that gun control laws in Chicago had no effect on the city’s homicide rate.

The author also argues that gun control laws violate the Second Amendment. The author argues that the right to bear arms is an individual right that cannot be restricted by the government.

Comparison and Contrast of Pro and Con

Proponents of gun control argue that it is a necessary public health measure to reduce gun violence. They cite evidence that shows that gun control laws are effective in reducing gun violence and that they are constitutional. Opponents of gun control argue that it is ineffective and unconstitutional. They cite evidence that shows that gun control laws do not reduce gun violence and that they violate the Second Amendment.

Policymakers

Gun control policy is made at all levels of government, including city, state, and national.

Systems Thinking Habits

Two systems thinking habits that can be used to analyze the issue of gun control are:

  • Habit 1: See the whole system: This habit involves looking at the issue of gun control from a holistic perspective, considering all of the factors that contribute to gun violence, such as poverty, mental health, and access to guns.
  • Habit 2: Challenge assumptions: This habit involves questioning the assumptions that we make about gun control, such as the assumption that gun control laws will reduce gun violence.

Health in All Policies

“Health in all policies” is a framework for considering the health impact of all government policies, regardless of whether they are specifically focused on health. The goal of “health in all policies” is to promote health and well-being by integrating health considerations into all aspects of government policymaking.

For example, a government policy that promotes economic development could also be designed to promote health by investing in healthy infrastructure, such as parks and bike lanes. Or, a government policy that addresses climate change could also be designed to promote health by reducing air pollution.

Conclusion

Gun control is a controversial public health issue with strong arguments on both sides. It is important to consider all of the evidence and to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision about gun control policy.

Systems thinking can be a helpful tool for analyzing the issue of gun control. By seeing the whole system and challenging our assumptions, we can better understand the complex factors that contribute to gun violence and develop more effective solutions.

“Health in all policies” is a framework that can be used to promote health and well-being by integrating health considerations into all aspects of government policymaking. When policymakers consider the health impact of all government policies, they can make decisions that will lead to a healthier population.

 

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