For years, the powerful gun lobby supported by the vast majority of Republican elected officials has prevented even the most innocuous of legislation designed to curb the stratospheric gun violence in the United States.
Thanks to the Dickey Amendment—a 1996 law mandating that "none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be used to advocate or promote gun control"—it's often a nonstarter for the CDC to even study gun violence.
In 2018, Congress lifted these restrictions and now, under the Biden administration, CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, has vowed to use the newfound data access to study the toll of gun violence in the United States as a public health crisis.
That didn't sit well with far-right Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who vowed in campaign ads to carry her glock to Congress with her (she didn't) and who went viral for the slapdash display of firearms in her zoom background.
Boebert, a conspiracy theorist who is by no means a public health expert, criticized the CDC for supposedly overstepping its objective.
The CDC must have a lot of time on their hands, as they\u2019ve just commissioned a study on gun violence.\n\nSo let me get this straight, they handle rent and now the 2nd Amendment?\n\nWhen do they have time to fight diseases?— Lauren Boebert (@Lauren Boebert) 1633004183
In addition to criticizing impending studies, Boebert also slammed the CDC for advocating for rent relief in light of the sudden unemployment of millions of Americans whose ability to pay rent was hindered.
Social media users condemned Boebert's comments, including gun law reform activists and those who lost loved ones to gun violence.
Seriously @laurenboebert, just sit down and shut up. You are out of your league. Because of people like you, gun violence is a reality of American life. Trust me, I know. Finding ways to reduce it is responsible, necessary, and patriotic. You clearly do not understand that.https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1633006603
There\u2019s video of Lauren Boebert\u2019s unattended 8-year-old son playing with fire amid unsecured firearms. It\u2019s no wonder she doesn\u2019t understand that gun violence is a public health crisis. What\u2019s tragic is that she\u2019s in charge of writing America\u2019s gun laws.https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1633007549
The CDC is working to save lives. Lauren Boebert focuses on guns.https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Outspoken (@Outspoken) 1633007902
Because the CDC cares about the leading cause of preventable death in children. Why don\u2019t you?https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Brian MD (@Brian MD) 1633010352
It is the job of the @CDCgov to stop deadly epidemics, like gun violence...and Republicanism now, as part of that deadly gun violence!https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Nurse Ratchet (@Nurse Ratchet) 1633009549
Since the start of THIS school year, police have confiscated guns in 4 local high school and 1 middle school. \nAND WE HAD A SHOOTING WHERE A CHILD DIED.\n\nGuns are a health problem! They kill!https://twitter.com/laurenboebert/status/1443550287973818373\u00a0\u2026— Stacy McAnulty (@Stacy McAnulty) 1633009254
They proceeded to roast Boebert in the replies.
Laur, I love this joke! \u201cTime on their hands\u2026\u201d Now explain what you do.— Jordan Laserstein, Esq. \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udd2f\ud83c\udf0a\u2696\ufe0f\ud83d\udcdc (@Jordan Laserstein, Esq. \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udd2f\ud83c\udf0a\u2696\ufe0f\ud83d\udcdc) 1633005279
Don't worry!\nThey'll get around to you eventually.— Gary Brumett (@Gary Brumett) 1633012595
Do you think they only have 6 employees?— Jana&Henk (@Jana&Henk) 1633013240
Boebert recently admitted that she used campaign finances to pay for personal expenses like rent and utilities.
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