California Researches Gun Violence

California is taking gun violence research into its own hands. In the state budget passed this week, the California legislature included $5 million to create a gun violence research center. That doesn’t sound like much money, but it’s a big deal because for the last 20 years, federal agencies, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have been prevented by Congress from researching gun violence. Three years ago, more than 100 scientists signed a letter asking the CDC to resume studying ways to reduce gun violence. President Obama ordered the agency to do so. But Congress continues to block funds for this research and federal agencies are mostly trying to stay clear of the controversy. What can the Golden State do?