The University of California is sponsoring state legislation that would strengthen law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute those responsible for an increasing number of violent acts and other harassment directed at faculty who utilize laboratory animals in research.
The California Animal Enterprise Protection Act (Assembly Bill 2296) is one in a series of steps intended to protect researchers from extremists who have placed Molotov cocktail-type devices near the homes of UCLA faculty, vandalized homes and made physical threats via phone and e-mail. Researchers on other UC campuses also have been harassed. Five individuals and three groups are subject to a court order designed to protect researchers from these illegal acts.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee
approved the bill April 17. The bill, carried by Assemblyman Gene Mullin, is expected to heard by other committees in coming weeks.
"Hopefully this will help put an end to an intolerable situation," UCLA Chancellor Gene Block told journalists in a conference call Monday.
The University of California Office of the President has established a Web site that includes the text of the bill, summarizes the threat posed by extremists and provides other useful background.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/animalresearch/welcome.html
