Assembly Democrats Protect Predators, Not Victims

Refuse to make it a felony to buy a 16- or 17-year-old for sex

 

 

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Democrat leadership had one job today. Protect kids. They failed.

 Instead of passing a straightforward felony penalty for buying 16- and 17-year-old children for sex, they gutted the bill and replaced it with legal

smoke. Their amendment relies on “intent” language that means nothing in a courtroom and does nothing to hold predators accountable.

A green triangle is a vote to protect predators, a red triangle is a vote to protect California’s children

The result is a bill that forces teenage victims to prove they were trafficked just to get justice. If they can’t, their abuser walks. That is what Assembly Democrats voted for. 

“Buying a minor for sex must be a felony,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “It’s unbelievable that some lawmakers are opposed to this. If we aren’t protecting the most vulnerable among us, what are we doing?”

 Republicans tried to block the change. Even the original author of the bill voted no, but that vote failed on a mostly party line vote. Most Assembly Democrats voted to

protect the loophole.

 This wasn’t a misunderstanding. It was a choice. And it sent a clear message to every predator in California.

 Assembly Republicans will keep fighting to fix this. Children deserve real protection. Not staged fixes. Not legal games. Not betrayal.

 Watch the full post-floor vote press availability from Assembly Republicans here.

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