Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Even After Trump Was Shot, Republicans Downplay Gun Violence
Assassination attempts against U.S. presidents have led to major gun laws, but the July 13 shooting at a rally for former President Donald Trump appears unlikely to be a pivotal moment in the divisive U.S. gun debate. In the days since Trump narrowly escaped a bullet fired from a would-be assassin鈥檚 rifle, the two sides in America鈥檚 argument over gun rights remain at odds over whether firearms are the major problem leading to such violence.聽(McWhirter and Elinson, 7/21)
In the months before Saturday鈥檚 assassination attempt on former聽president Donald Trump聽in Pennsylvania, the state鈥檚 legislature blocked a bill banning the sale of the type of assault rifle allegedly used in the attack. Prior to that, at the federal level,聽nearly all of Pennsylvania鈥檚 Republican congressional delegation聽voted against a bill to reinstate a nationwide assault weapons ban, and the US Senate GOP blocked the legislation. (Santoro, 7/19)
The search used sale records from an out-of-business gun store that the government is required to collect 鈥 but that Republican lawmakers and the gun lobby would like to place off-limits. (Stein, 7/21)
More than a week after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump with an assault weapon, his political supporters and fellow members of the Republican party have remained silent on the issue of tightening America鈥檚 notoriously lax gun control laws. That intransigence plays out against the backdrop of a US election that was already deeply marred by fears of political violence and the possibility of civil unrest before a 20-year-old gunman fired a AR-15-style rifle at the former president, injuring him and two others and killing one rally-goer at an event in Pennsylvania. (Berger, 7/21)
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), a former White House physician, shared an update on former President Trump鈥檚 gunshot wound in a Saturday memo. ... 鈥淚 have been with President Trump since that time, and I have evaluated and treated his wound daily,鈥 Jackson said in his memo. ... 鈥淭he bullet passed, coming less than a quarter of an inch from entering his head, and struck the top of his right ear,鈥 Jackson continued. (Suter, 7/20)
In related news about mental health 鈥
UC Irvine researchers say repeated exposure to graphic photos and videos is being linked to psychological distress. Experts say it鈥檚 important to understand how these images can affect your mental health and recognize when to take a break or reduce your exposure. (Garcia, 7/19)