BRADY APPLAUDS CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY FOR PASSING GUN VIOLENCE RESEARCH BILL

Advocates Urge Governor To Sign It Into Law Swiftly

Sacramento, CA, September 6, 2017 — Today with bipartisan support, the California State Assembly passed SB 536, a firearm violence research bill. Senator Richard Pan's (D-Sacramento) bill will make information related to Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs) available to researchers affiliated with the newly established University of California Firearm Violence Research Center or other nonprofit educational institutions or public agencies focused on the study and prevention of violence.

Amanda Wilcox, Legislative Chair of the 28 Chapters of the California Brady Campaign, said, "SB 536 makes sense. It is in the interest of public safety for qualified researchers to have access to data and information to adequately study California's GVRO law in order to better analyze its use and the strength of its effectiveness and implementation. GVRO is far-reaching new policy that has the potential to save many lives; we need to fully realize the benefits of this law. I applaud California's legislature for enacting this on a bipartisan basis and urge Governor Brown to sign SB 536 as soon as it reaches his desk."

The California Brady Campaign was instrumental in the 2014 enactment of California's "first in the nation" GVRO law, which allows both law enforcement and immediate family members to petition the court for a temporary firearm prohibition when a person is at risk of injury to self or others by having a firearm. Since then, two more states -- Washington and Oregon -- have enacted similar laws referred to as Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and at least twenty more states are expected to consider similar bills in their state legislatures. These laws provide a way to prevent firearm suicide and homicide before a tragedy occurs. Existing California law does not allow academic researchers to have access to GVRO records.

After returning to the Senate for a concurrence vote, the bill will go to the governor to be signed. For more information on how Brady is fighting to Protect 23 Years of Lifesaving Success of the Brady Law.

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


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