CA law to increase penalties for child sex offenders blasted for harming 'marginalized communities'

SACRAMENTO, CA - A bill in the California Assembly that would increase the criminal penalties for sexual predators preying on children was reportedly bashed by activists from the LGBTQ community because it would "disproportionately impact marginalized communities."

As reported by CBS Austin, the new legislation SB1414, which enjoys bipartisan support, would increase an adult soliciting or paying for sex with a minor to a felony offense. Amendments added to the bill by Democrat members would require that those accused of soliciting sex with minors 16 or 17 years of age be charged with a felony only if the minor was a victim of sex trafficking.
 

SB1414 is a proposal to make it a felony to purchase chiIdren for s*x in California.

Woke activist groups OPPOSE this bill by complaining that it will harm the LGBTQ community and people or color.

Dems already watered down the bill. pic.twitter.com/RqAsaHAInW

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 8, 2024

According to Breitbart News, a staff attorney with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), told a hearing of the Assembly Public Safety Committee last week that the bill “fails to address the root causes” of the sexual crimes and would “not effectively stop sexual violence.”

She added, "We believe that SB 1414, takes an overly punitive approach that fails to address the root causes of these issues and will not effectively stop sexual violence.”

Walters said, “We are particularly concerned that the harsher penalties proposed in this bill will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, especially members of the LGBTQ community, who already suffer from systematic biases within the criminal justice system, particularly when it comes to sexually based offenses."

CBS reported that Isabella Borgeson from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights told the committee, "I’d like to acknowledge the survivors [of sex trafficking] here today and name that we all have the shared goal of protecting children from harm. We are concerned that the harsher penalties contained in this bill will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly Black and brown individuals who already bear the brunt of systemic biases within our criminal justice system."

Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey replied to Walters, "I find it to be very difficult to swallow. I think it’s misguided, misdirected— however you want to put it— sympathy."

"Overly punitive?" He asked incredulously. "That's insulting to victims"

The measure, as amended to reduce the penalty, was passed by the committee and is now pending the appropriations committee before it can go to a floor vote.