Bill Promoting Unequal Access to Public Data is on Governor’s Desk

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -(Ammoland.com)- Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) is asking Governor Jerry Brown to veto Senate Bill 536, a measure which provides unequal access to data for the purpose of researching Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVRO).

SB 536, by Senator Richard Pan (D – Sacramento), requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make information relating to GVROs that is maintained in the California Restraining and Protective Order System or any similar database available to researchers affiliated with the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center.

It does not, however, require DOJ to make the same data available to other organizations for the purpose of research.

“While we do appreciate a passing thought given to others whose research may benefit from this data, to state that such access is ‘…at the discretion of the department…’ places all other requestors at a significant disadvantage,” said Craig DeLuz, Spokesman for Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC).

“This allows the DOJ to pick favorites with sensitive data that is needed to hold the research center accountable.”

The Gun Violence Research Center at UC Davis was created in 2016 by legislation that amounted to a sole source contract with Dr. Garen Wintemute, …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand