California’s ‘red flag’ law utilized for 58 threatened mass shootings

A study from the Violence Prevention Research Program at UC Davis examines case details and mortality records from the first three years of California’s GVRO law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

Gun Violence: UC Davis Researches Causes, Trends, Solutions

What does the data on gun violence tell us about trends?

Are trends in gun purchases linked to trends in firearm violence? 

How effective are background checks?

What makes a community more vulnerable to gun violence?

How can we reduce the risk within specific communities of need?

Violence prevention expert Buggs attends White House ceremony tackling ‘ghost guns’

Shani Buggs, an assistant professor with the Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP), was in attendance for a historic White House event in the Rose Garden on April 11. She was there as President Joe Biden announced new rules to crack down on “ghost guns” and a ban on the manufacturing of untraceable firearms.

Unemployment associated with increase in violence early in COVID-19 pandemic

The rise in unemployment during the five months of the pandemic was associated with an increase in firearm violence and homicide in 16 American cities. 

New research shows violence is broadly felt by millions of Californians

Research led by UC Davis Professor Garen Wintemute shows that violence indirectly impacts most Californians. Though relatively few may experience or witness a violent act, a large majority of surveyed Californians reported having an “experience of violence” (EV). These included hearing gunshots in their neighborhood, encountering a sidewalk memorial to a violent death or learning about a violent event through their social network.

Handgun ownership and intimate partner violence history increases risk of violent crime

Handgun owners who have been charged with intimate partner violence (IPV) – abuse or aggression in romantic relationships – are much more likely to commit other violent crimes. That includes crime index offenses, such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. These results affirm prior research that showed IPV is a major risk for future offenses. 

Violence increased most in marginalized neighborhoods early in the COVID-19 pandemic

During the first five months of the pandemic in 2020, low-income communities of color experienced significantly greater increases in firearm violence, homicides and assaults compared to more affluent, white neighborhoods.

Previous studies showed increases in violence in U.S. cities during the pandemic but did not indicate where violence was highest or increased most within those cities.

Exposure to violence takes a toll on the socioemotional well-being of Californians

Researchers at the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program (VPRP) assessed the prevalence of exposure to violence, such as robbery or assault, and its impacts on the mental health and social functioning of California adults.

Gun owner perceptions about actual firearm dangers suggest opportunities for improving gun safety

People who own guns and those living with gun owners are substantially less worried about the risk of firearm injuries than individuals living in homes without guns, says a new study by violence prevention experts at UC Davis Health.

Gunshot injuries in California drop, but percentage of firearm deaths goes up

Gun-violence research experts at UC Davis Health say that despite a significant drop in firearm injuries in recent years in California, there has been a substantial increase in the state’s overall death rate among those wounded by firearms.