Biomedical researchers in California and across the country face increasing threats of violence, harassment and intimidation from activists opposed to research with animals.

The University of California, Davis, has taken significant steps to increase security and ensure that researchers can continue their work in safety. A bill passed by the state Assembly and currently before the Senate, Assembly Bill 2296, takes some additional steps toward protecting scientists who carry out lawful, well-regulated research from attacks on their homes and families.

Recent months have seen incidents at UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz including attempted fire-bombings, vandalism, harassment and intimidation. In Santa Cruz, six masked intruders tried to break into a biology professor's house during a child's birthday party.

Last month, a spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front – considered a domestic terrorist organization by the FBI – reiterated past statements that the murder of researchers was "acceptable" in order to stop animal research.

Activists have posted the home addresses, telephone numbers and photographs of researchers (including one of the authors of this article) and their family members, using their Web sites to incite harassment.

We cherish free speech and free inquiry. Individuals have the right to express their views, including in protest. But violence, threats and intimidation cross the line and are unacceptable.

At UC Davis, in the University of California system and in the academic community as a whole, we have an obligation to keep researchers and their families safe so that they can pursue their work, which has brought enormous benefits in our ability to prevent, treat and cure diseases, both in humans and animals.

Animal research is strictly regulated by federal law, and we take our responsibility for the welfare of animals in our care very seriously. Animal welfare inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regularly make routine unannounced inspections of the campus, and our facilities are also inspected and accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization.

The recent upsurge in violence, harassment and threats is of great concern to us and to all researchers on our campus, and we are not complacent about the situation. What happens in Santa Cruz or Los Angeles can also happen here: In the past, UC Davis researchers and facilities have been the targets of arson, vandalism, razor-blade letters and intimidating demonstrations at their homes.

On our campus, we have taken proactive steps to increase security, working closely with local law enforcement agencies. We offer advice and training to researchers on how to enhance their own safety both at work and at home.

The University of California Office of the President is also acting to strongly support researchers.

In addition to supporting the security, legal and insurance needs of researchers on the 10 campuses, the university is supporting AB 2296 by Assemblyman Gene Mullin, a South San Francisco Democrat. If enacted, it would prohibit activists from inciting attacks on researcher's homes or harassment of family members by posting home addresses and telephone numbers on the Internet. It would allow victims of such actions to take legal action against those who carry out such activities.

This may seem a small step, but we believe that this bill will contribute to enhancing the safety and peace of mind of researchers and their families, without impacting the public's legitimate right to know about the findings of research funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies, or the constitutional rights of those who do not agree with animal research.