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CHICAGO -- The American Medical Association's House of Delegates adopted a series of policies on gun violence on Tuesday, but only after a great deal of debate that probably left no one fully satisfied.
The new policies support "appropriate legislation" that would "ban the sale and ownership to the public of all assault-type weapons, bump stocks and related devices, high capacity magazines and armor piercing bullets." In addition, the House agreed to policy supporting gun safety courses requirement to register all firearms as a conditions of licensure, and gun-free school zones, with exceptions for certain individuals and circumstances.
Other successful resolutions backed legislation to require firearm registration and completion of safety courses for license holders, and to give local police chiefs discretion over permitting decisions on "concealed carry." The House also called for "gun violence restraining orders" to allow temporary removal of an individual's firearms after arrest or conviction related to domestic violence or stalking or who show signs of potential violence. And a resolution supporting gun-free school zones, with exceptions for "school-sanctioned activities" and law enforcement, passed as well.
The statements build on the , which backed laws to restrict the sale and ownership of inexpensive handguns, semi-automatic firearms, and any weapon that could be manipulated to function as "a large clip, high-rate-of-fire automatic or semi-automatic weapon."
In discussing policy around an assault weapons ban, delegates tussled over the definition of words such as "high velocity"and "high capacity" and how prescriptive and specific their policy statement should be. Some gun owners pointed out, for example, that deer hunters may use high-velocity bullets, and ultimately the resolution omitted references to such ammunition.
Several delegates, concerned that the resolution went too far, suggested it be sent back to to the Board of Trustees for study. But those in support of stronger gun control pushed for immediate action.
Mike Greene, MD, a delegate of Georgia, suggested that this proposal and all the others be referred so that a more comprehensive position could be taken.
"We need to have a cohesive, encompassing policy," he said. Plucking different provisions from different resolutions to vote on independently subverts that goal. "It needs to be done in total."
Massachusetts delegate David Rosman, MD, however, declared that the AMA had a duty to act now.
"The public is watching," he said, noting that the next chance to address the topic would be at the AMA's interim meeting in November. "At the rate of 96 deaths per day by gun in the United States, that's 14,400 deaths while we wait."
Greene, however, cautioned that just because the AMA passes a policy does not mean that laws will change overnight.
"Regardless of what we decide today, this isn't going to happen tomorrow," he said.
In the end, the recommendation of an assault weapon ban passed overwhelmingly (446-99).
The issue of registration -- a hot-button topic for decades -- proved controversial again.
"We like to think government is benign and will always do the right thing, but history teaches us this is not true," said Leah McCormack, MD, a New York delegate, raising the specter of Nazi Germany.
One resolution that did not pass would have supported a permit requirement for "rapidly-firing semi-automatic" firearms.
Richard "Dick" Warner, MD, a Kansas delegate, noted that the phrase might suggest to most people an AR-15, but in reality, "describes most handguns."
Hilary Fairbrother, MD, a delegate with the Young Physicians Section (YPS), said while she is today an advocate for responsible gun ownership, she grew up learning to shoot a gun as part of her school's P.E. curriculum.
She initially wanted an immediate vote, but then switched to back a proposal to defer the matter to the November interim meeting, which passed.
"I think we can come together at [the November meeting] and really make meaningful policy for our country and for the safety of our patients," Fairbrother said.
In opening remarks on Saturday, David Barbe, MD, MHA, AMA's outgoing president, had urged delegates to take a stand.
"We must not back down from addressing gun violence. On the contrary, we must address it head on," he said.
"While we will not all agree on every proposal ... we can all agree that the issues must be addressed and that the only responsible way forward is for women and men of good faith to continue to search for and advocate science-based solutions."