CDC and research on "gun violence"

As the haggling over the budget begins, one point that will likely get further attention as a potential bargaining chip is the ban on government-funding for CDC research that will "advocate or promote gun control".  Of course, this ban is often bemoaned among progressives.

It is not at all clear why it is assumed that the CDC would be any better at doing such research than are the multiple private sector organizations who explore and exploit such issues.  The main problem from a research standpoint has been that a government agency is likely to come under the influence of administration policies and when you have a president who has admonished those who "cling to their God and guns" and who has repeatedly praised a prohibitionist model for gun control, you set the stage for such a "research" ban.  Findings are always a matter of what the question is and who is asking it.  You can't insist that your research will be fair and impartial (as science should be) and that "No one is coming for your guns" when you express admiration for the Australian model of gun confiscation.

First, we have to be clear that all scientists find that their work is subject to misuse by those who have an agenda, just like putting any two words together is likely to result in seeing a misquotation in print somewhere.  Hence, although one would hope that CDC scientists could focus on the "violence" element of "gun violence" it is just as likely that such research would be used to propose law and policy based on "gun restriction" as the major approach. [Fill in the blank] violence is still violence, firearms are tools, they are means, not causes.

Frankly, as clinical psychologist who works on suicide prevention, I will note that it is important to see the gun, car, drugs or other means as just that - means to do self-violence.  As a gun owner, I think it is equally important to see the gun part of "gun violence" as a means to an act, not as a cause of the act itself.  If CDC is to live up to its name, then violence is the disease to be controlled or prevented.  The problem is, in these times, there are few of us who believe that the agenda would be that straightforward.