As AMA considers backing background checks for gun buyers, Macon doctor speaks out

Against the backdrop of Sunday’s predawn shooting massacre at an Orlando nightclub, members of the American Medical Association are discussing that organization’s public health stance on whether it should recommend broad background screenings for U.S. gun buyers.

Dr. Michael E. Greene of Macon, who is on the board of directors and is a past president of the Medical Association of Georgia, said the talks about background checks at the AMA’s gathering in Chicago had been on the agenda for some time.

“The debate was based on a resolution that was introduced by a delegation to the AMA that said all gun transfers – private, public … would be subject to full background (checks) for a federally licensed firearm deal,” Greene said by phone on Monday.

“The point that some of us were making was that, well, we sort of understand where you want to go with this to reduce gun violence. We’re all for that. We think, however, that what you need to do is to come up with evidence that your proposed mechanism will be effective. Because … I don’t know how many people have passed background checks and then gone on to participate in gun violence. Is it more or less than those that didn’t?

“I have no idea. I don’t think anybody right now has any idea.”

He said the background-check talks are a precursor to any potential recommendation that might be made to the broader AMA. If the association chose to advocate background checks, its wishes would then be passed along to “legislative and regulatory bodies that do have the ability to enact this into regulation or law.”

Greene said his view is that before the group adopts and backs such “a fairly sweeping expansion of how gun ownership and purchasing and transfer is done, let’s make sure that what we’re asking for will work.”

He referred to gun violence as “a significant issue in our country.”

“But,” Greene went on, “I think that before we leap off the deep end to say, ‘Well, go do this and fix it,’ well, show me does that fix it.”

The proposed policy was debated Sunday and won’t come up again until Tuesday or Wednesday, Greene said.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 5:43 PM with the headline "As AMA considers backing background checks for gun buyers, Macon doctor speaks out."