The University of California will soon have the country’s first center dedicated to studying gun violence as a health issue.
Breitbart.com reports Cal president Janet Napolitano announced the launching of the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center, which will be located on the campus of UC Davis in Sacramento.
“The state’s decision to provide public funding for a center to study firearm violence — the first of its kind in the nation — demonstrates great leadership by the state and presents a unique opportunity for the University of California to be at the forefront of researching a growing public health issue,” the website reports Napolitano said.
State lawmakers designated $5 million to the launch, a California Health Report said. Breitbart.com reports researchers at UC Davis will be the driving force behind looking at guns through the prism of public health, but Napolitano said she “expects scientists at other UC campuses to contribute to the research.”
“The center will train post-doctoral researchers, such as epidemiologists or physicians, who want to study violence,” she said, according to the website. “And it will issue small grants to scientists across the country who are conducting firearm-violence prevention research.” The center will be guided by “an advisory board,” which consists of elected officials, law enforcement personnel and academics.
