President Obama on Wednesday announced his multi-prong campaign “to do the right thing” to protect the public from gun violence.

Stated the White House in a prepared statement:

“There are approximately 30,000 firearm-related homicides and suicides a year, a number large enough to make clear this is a public health crisis.

“But for years, the Centers for Disease Control and other scientific agencies have been barred by Congress from using funds to “advocate or promote gun control,” and some members of Congress have claimed this prohibition also bans the CDC from conducting any research on the causes of gun violence. However, research on gun violence is not advocacy.

“The President is directing the CDC and other research agencies to conduct research into the causes and prevention of gun violence, and the CDC is announcing that they will begin this research.”

States the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on its website:

“Violence is a serious public health problem in the United States. From infants to the elderly, it affects people in all stages of life. In 2009, almost 16,800 people were victims of homicide and nearly 37,000 took their own life.

“The number of violent deaths tells only part of the story. Many more survive violence and are left with permanent physical and emotional scars. Violence also erodes communities by reducing productivity, decreasing property values, and disrupting social services.

“CDC is committed to stopping violence before it begins.”