draft 2 policies Memorandum: first regarding Medical Marijuana Policy Paper and the second

taxing sugar-sweetened beverages. below is : 1- an example :, 2- INSTRUCTIONS .

3 PAGES DOUBLE SPACE

Policy Memorandum: Amendment of Title 18 to Ban Bump Stocks

Background

In response to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history that took place in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017, legislators have introduced a bill to ban bump stocks. Introduced on October 10, 2017, the proposed legislation would amend Title 18 of the United States Code (Bobic, 2017). Authored by House of Representatives lawmakers Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass), this bipartisan bill would ban the sale, production, and transfer of bump stocks and similar devices (e.g., trigger cranks, which simulate automatic gunfire) (Bobic, 2017). According to Curbelo, "this common-sense legislation will ban devices that blatantly circumvent already existing law without restricting Second Amendment rights" (Bobic, 2017, n.p.).

Problem Statement

During the mass shooting in Las Vegas, a single shooter fired down into a crowd of thousands of country concertgoers from his hotel room in Mandalay Bay Resort, killing 59 individuals and injuring more than 500 (Fadel, 2017). The mass shooter used bump stocks, which are legal and "essentially allow semiautomatic weapons to rapid-fire bullets, much like an automatic rifle or machine gun" (Somashekhar, 2017, n.p.). Bump stocks, metal or plastic attachments, utilize a gun's natural recoil to allow it to "bounce back and forth off a shooter's trigger finger" (n.p.), with the ability of firing 100 rounds in 7 seconds (Somashekhar, 2017). While fully automatic weapons are illegal in the United States through the National Firearms Act, bump stocks are not regulated under that law since it is a firearm part (Somashekhar, 2017).

Analysis

The United States has the 31^st highest rate of gun violence (3.85 deaths per 100,000) in the world,eight times higher than Canada (0.48) and 27 times higher than Denmark (0.14) (Aizenman, 2017). The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which tracks deaths worldwide by cause of death, estimates that the United States should have a rate of 0.79 deaths per 100,000 persons based on socioeconomic status, five times less than the current rate (Aizenman, 2017).

Political debate concerning gun reform legislation has historically been divisive among Democrats and Republicans, largely due to fundamental disagreement about increasing legislation of any kind (Blake, 2017). While the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld certain firearm restrictions (e.g., Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibits the sale of guns to individuals under 18 years of age, convicted criminals, dishonorably discharged personnel), there are "no federal laws banning semiautomatic assault weapons, military-style 0.50 caliber rifles, handguns, or large-capacity magazines" (Masters, 2017, n.p.). Comparatively, Canada requires a 28-day waiting period for firearm purchase, mandatory safety courses, and more extensive background checks as well as bans large-capacity magazines and restricts military-style firearms and ammunition (Masters, 2017).

Overall, the American public favors many factors of proposed gun control legislation, including universal background checks and restriction of firearm sales to individuals with misdemeanor convictions (Sanger-Katz & Bui, 2017). According to a survey conducted following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, 72% of registered voters support a ban on bump stocks, with 68% of Republicans and 79% of Democrats supporting such legislation (Sanger-Katz & Bui, 2017). While it is difficult to assess the safety benefits of such legislation due to their limited use in reported gun violence, experts fear that "future mass shooters may use them" in a copycat-like fashion (Sanger-Katz & Bui, 2017, n.p.), and this legislation could reduce the fatality rate of a future mass shooting.

Recommendation

With bipartisan public support of increased gun control legislation, the proposed bill will take the necessary first step toward reducing the potential of mass gun violence. While broader bipartisan discussion of gun reform legislation must occur, the newly introduced bill amending the legality of bump stocks and similar devices represents a necessary step in order to address the rising rates of gun violence in the United States, and I wholeheartedly hope you will cast your name in support of such legislation.

References

Aizenman, N. (2017, October 6). Gun violence: How the U.S. compares with other countries. NPR. Retrieved fromhttps://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/10/06/555861898/gun-violence-how-the-u-s-compares-to-other-countries

Blake, A. (2017, October 2). Why Congress still won't 'do something' about gun laws after Las Vegas. The Washington Post. Retrieved fromhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/10/02/why-congress-still-wont-do-something-about-gun-laws-after-las-vegas/?utm_term=.cec94842e072

Bobic, I. (2017, October 10). Bipartisan bill introduced to ban bump stocks after Las Vegas shooting. Huffington Post. Retrieved fromhttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bump-stocks-bill-las-vegas_us_59dd0a4de4b04fc4e1e92111

Fadel, L. (2017, October 2). At least 58 people dead after mass shooting in Las Vegas. NPR. Retrieved fromhttps://www.npr.org/2017/10/02/555170208/at-least-58-people-dead-after-mass-shooting-in-las-vegas

Masters, J. (2017). U.S. gun policy: Global comparisons. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-gun-policy-global-comparisons

Sanger-Katz, M. & Bui, Q. (2017, October 12). A bump stock ban is populat with the public. But experts have their doubts. The New York Times. Retrieved fromhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/12/upshot/a-bump-stock-ban-is-popular-but-experts-have-their-doubts.html

Somashekhar, S. (2017, October 10). Gun-control group sues 'bump stock' makers over Las Vegas shooting massacre. The Washington Post. Retrieved fromhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/10/10/gun-control-group-sues-bump-stock-makers-over-las-vegas-shooting-massacre/?utm_term=.1b271ad4ad36

INSTRUCTIONS : Background:

A policy memorandum for the purpose of this course describes relevant legal standards, presents a reasoned analysis based on law, ethics, and policy, and advocates for a particular approach to an issue in public health law. The purpose of a policy memorandum is to prepare you to write for a health advocacy organization, to present findings to health practitioners, or educate and lobby for legislative change. For a reference, please see the Sample Policy Memorandum in Canvas.

Prompt:

Throughout this course, we have covered many topics with contentious viewpoints in Public Health Law & Ethics, where reasonable and respected professional colleagues may differ in opinion. For this assignment, pick one discrete and specific issue within one of the topics we covered in this course. Find an issue where debate has emerged about which you feel strongly.

This is your time to be creative and explore developing your own opinion and position.

• This issue should be narrowly focused. For example: "Passing House Bill 174 permitting physicians to recommend medical marijuana will increase illicit diversion and recreational use." or "67% of clinical trials occur abroad in developing nations that lack basic healthcare, and I urge Congress to investigate deficiencies relating to informed consent and the imbalance of risk to research participants."

• Use the readings to develop a coherent, logical, and concise policy memorandum. I encourage you to use additional resources listed in the syllabus or of your choosing. If you find additional sources, they must be from academic sources, policy organizations, or reputable news sources.

• Paper length must not exceed 3 pages double spaced. Include proper citation.

Format:

Background

Briefly summarize the key points of the issue.

What is the current issue? Who are the key players? Who does this effect? What would the proposed changes entail? This should be very brief, only a couple of sentences.

Problem Statement

What existing problems does your approach address? This is a broad general statement in a sentence.

What issues do you see with how viewpoints in the debate would or would not effectively address these underling issues? This can be done with a sentence or less for each issue.

Analysis

Adopt a clear and logical position. This is the bulk of the discussion.

Is this the most effective resolution of the underlying issue?

List out 2 or 3 key issues, define them. Your discussion should be focused on these key issues.

Point out potential positive points of using your proposed solution.

This is the section to apply legal standards, ethical duties, and policy reasoning.

Recommendation

Clearly state in a sentence your message and action requested.

Example: "It is imperative to have a policy that respects individual privacy and builds trust in the public health community, so I request your support in allocating state funding to implement this program."

Optional Strategies:

Check newspapers for pending legislative bills (medical marijuana, healthcare reform, firearms legislation, prescription database monitoring, etc.). Use the bill as a starting point to respond to the issue.

Check newspapers or blogs discussing a current policy problem (emergency preparedness, taxing sugar sweetened beverages, childhood obesity, etc.). This will give you leverage to respond to the position you find and elaborate on why you agree or disagree.