California can continue providing personal information of gun owners to researchers for the purpose of studying gun violence, a state court of appeals ruled.
It’s a reversal of a decision from a lower court judge last year who ruled against the sharing of such information.
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The backstory: The issue goes back to 2021 when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that allows the Department of Justice to share identifying information of over four million gun owners in the state with research institutions.
- The shared information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, and other relevant data collected during firearm sales for background checks.
- The shared information includes names, addresses, phone numbers, criminal records, and other relevant data collected during firearm sales for background checks.
- Researchers can utilize this information for their studies and make their findings public, but they cannot disclose any identifying details of gun owners.
- Last year the lower court judge ruled that the law violates privacy rights.
The big picture: Last week, a three-judge panel of the California Court of Appeals concluded that the lower court did not adequately consider the state’s interest in studying and preventing gun violence when blocking the law.
- The case has been sent back to the lower court, and the preliminary injunction has been reversed.
- Once the ruling is implemented, the state will resume providing the information to researchers, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
What they’re saying: “The court’s decision is a victory in our ongoing efforts to prevent gun violence,” Bonta said in a statement.
- Bonta added that the law “serves the important goal of enabling research that supports informed policymaking aimed at reducing and preventing firearm violence.”
