Political Rewind: CDC study shows gun violence rising; Vote to codify abortion rights fails

Caption

CDC releases study about rising homicides.

The panel: 

Dr. Audrey Haynes — Political science professor, University of Georgia

Dr. Andra Gillespie — Political science professor and director, Emory University

The breakdown:

1. Gun violence is taking record tolls on American lives according to a new study from the CDC.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that deaths from firearms were up 35% nationally in 2020 and that guns were used in 79% of all homicides and 53% of suicides.

• In Atlanta, about 90% of 2020 homicides were committed using guns.

2. U.S. Senate Democrats lost their bid to codify the right to choice in federal law.

• They were under no illusion their measure would pass, but they saw it as a signal to voters that the future of abortion rights is in their hands.

• University of Georgia political science professor Dr. Audrey Haynes said a less expansive abortion access bill could still pass in U.S. Congress. 

• The abortion access debate could impact the upcoming 2022 election. 

3. The U.S. Supreme Court will meet Thursday for the first time since the Roe v. Wade majority opinion leak. 

• The leak is unprecedented, and some experts are unsure on how it could impact the decision-making process. 

4. The highly contested Georgia gubernatorial election could have implications for down-ballot GOP candidates.

• Anecdotal evidence suggests that some typically Democrat voters may be voting in the Republican primary. 
• Republicans are also voting in the primary election more than in past primaries. 

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