CA Dems Block Bill That Would Make Human Trafficking of a Minor a Serious Felony

Democrats on the California Assembly’s Public Safety committee have made some terrible votes this session, which is saying a lot given the number of bad bills the supermajority has passed. This year, while the state is in the midst of a surge in violent crime and fentanyl deaths they’ve blocked bills which would classify domestic violence as a violent crime and increase penalties for fentanyl dealers, seemingly because Republicans either sponsored them or heavily supported them.

That streak of terrible votes continued Tuesday when the committee blocked SB 14, which would have made human trafficking of a minor a serious felony in the state. By labeling it a “serious” felony, a conviction would be counted as a strike under the Three Strikes law. The bill cleared the state Senate with bipartisan support back in April, but none of the Assembly Public Safety Committee’s six Democrats voted to move it out of committee. The two Republicans voted yes, though it was initially reported that one, Asm. Juan Alanis, was not present. Alanis clarified Tuesday afternoon on Twitter.

I am also a proud coauthor of #SB14.

Facts: I motioned to pass the bill today, I participated in the debate today in favor of the bill & I voted YES on the bill. I did have to step out briefly for another committee that was about to adjourn so I could vote there. #CALeg

— Assemblyman Juan Alanis (@JuanAlanisCA) July 11, 2023

As KCRA’s Capitol correspondent Ashley Zavala wrote, a victim sobbed in the audience as the bill died.

No Democrats were willing to vote on the bill. The one yes came from Republican Assemblyman Tom Lackey, the other Republican, Assemblyman Juan Alanis, was not in the room.

The bill was granted reconsideration, meaning it could pick back up again next year.

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) July 11, 2023

Why the big shift in support? Even Sen. Scott Wiener, the Democrat who’s infamous for pushing legislation that would harm minor children, voted for it in the CA Senate. Could the hubbub around the movie “Sound of Freedom,” which does an incredible job of exposing just how prevalent the sexual trafficking of minors is worldwide and highlights the United States as the largest consumer in this abominable industry, have played a role? After all, over the last two weeks there’s been a steady stream of media declaring that the only people who really believe that the sexual trafficking of minors is happening on a large scale are those who believe in QAnon conspiracies. So if the Democrats in Sacramento passed this bill, they could be seen as giving credibility to the issue – even though they heard from actual victims during their hearing (and re-victimized them with their vote).

I suppose they think they threw the victims a bone, though, by not killing the bill outright – they granted it reconsideration, so it could be picked up next year during the second part of the two-year session. How many more children will be victimized during this time? You can’t put a dent in the demand if there aren’t any real penalties.

Instead of giving this sickening, despicable practice the attention it deserves and sending a message that God’s children are not for sale, Committee Chair Reggie Jones-Sawyer and his minion Isaac Bryan are continuing their racial pandering, promoting a bill which would require judges to consider a criminal’s race when determining their prison sentence.

#AB852 would require judges to consider a person’s race when determining a criminal’s prison sentence. Lady Justice has a blindfold for a reason and this bill takes America backwards. Thank you @IngrahamAngle for having me on. pic.twitter.com/4Rgn3etQuB

— Bill Essayli (@billessayli) July 11, 2023

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This piece was edited post-publication to clarify Asm. Juan Alanis’ vote and to give further information about a serious felony.)