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Little did California voters know, when they approved a 2014 ballot measure that reduced penalties for certain theft offenses, that their decision would still be making headlines in 2022.
On Tuesday, Democratic Assemblymember Rudy Salas of Bakersfield introduced a bill that, if passed by state lawmakers and a majority of voters, would reverse a key aspect of Prop. 47 by moving the felony threshold for petty theft and shoplifting from $950 back to $400.
Salas said, “Enough is enough, we need to fight back against the criminals who are stealing from our communities. We have seen the unintended consequences of Prop. 47’s weakening of our theft laws and I believe California voters are ready to make their voices heard on this issue again.”
Salas’ statement sharply contrasts with those from prominent Democrats including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who have repeatedly emphasized that Prop. 47 has nothing to do with California’s surge in smash-and-grab robberies. But it could help Salas, who’s running for the U.S. House of Representatives seat currently held by Republican David Valadao, court GOP voters — many of whom blame Prop. 47 for the uptick in organized retail crime.
Indeed, a few hours after Salas unveiled his bill, a group of Republican state lawmakers — including Assemblymembers Kevin Kiley of Rocklin, James Gallagher of Yuba City and James Patterson of Fresno — introduced a proposal to repeal Prop. 47 altogether.
Other issues addressed this week include:
* A bill from Democratic Assemblymembers Phil Ting of San Francisco, Chris Ward of San Diego and Mike Gipson of Gardena that would make it easier for gun violence victims to sue firearm companies that behave “recklessly, negligently or irresponsibly.” The proposal would effectively remove a loophole in a 2005 federal law that shields gun makers from responsibility when their products are used to commit crimes.
* Gipson plans to introduce a bill that would allow any Californian to file a private lawsuit against anyone who makes or sells “assault weapons” and ghost gun kits in the state. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Newsom pitched the idea in December as a way to clap back at the U.S. Supreme Court letting stand a similarly structured Texas law that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
* Another controversial bill appears to be dead for the year: Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco on Tuesday shelved a proposal that would have banned some types of surgeries on intersex children until age 12, when they’re considered old enough to participate in the decision.
By Emily Hoeven
By Emily Hoeven
By Emily Hoeven
California voters were warned Prop 47 would be an absolute nightmare. I’m not the least bit surprised we’re still talking about it.
Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta said Prop. 47 has nothing to do with California’s surge in smash-and-grab robberies. Liars.
Newsom and Bonta – both Democrats – are completely out of touch with reality. States that have the highest rates of crime are run by Democrats.
Criminals are opportunists and wait for openings. Prop 47 gave them exactly what they were looking for. At least Rudy Salas is one Democrat that isn’t afraid to tell the truth.
Repeal Prop 47
On FB, this article started with ‘A Democratic bill would . . .’.
Our government represents all of us, wouldn’t it be better to lose the divisive, partisan adjectives and let an idea stand on its own?
Malcolm Hex doesn’t read statistics well. 8 of the 13 states and DC with the highest crime rates are run by republicans. At least he got the top two right
@ MalcolmHex2
Your use of a small scale to measure crime statistics is rather misleading
First: Louisiana – a Democrat State – has by far, the highest homicide rate in the country – 12.4 per 100,000 people, while New Hampshire, a Republican state, has the lowest – source: World Population Review
Second: 10 out of the top 20 states with the highest homicide rates are Democrat – source: USA Today. Even split, but since you brought up Washington DC, I’ll include that in there too. Read on…
Third: The District of Columbia (Washington DC) has the highest crime rate in the United States per 100,000 people (2022) – source: World Population Review
Fourth: The vast majority of major riots in 2020 and 2021, happened in Democratic controlled states (Washington, Oregon, Minneapolis, New York, etc.) Oh. let’s include Washington DC while were at it (you can include the insurrection if you want).