California Democrats Reject Law Protecting Children From Trafficking
The Democratic Party’s grip on California politics was again exposed as the state’s Assembly Committee on Public Safety blocked a critical bill to curb human trafficking. This decision by Democrats defies all rationality and portrays a baffling indifference toward safeguarding children.
Senate Bill 14 (S.B. 14) proposed to categorize the human trafficking of minors as a “serious felony.” This would place it alongside heinous crimes like murder, aligning penalties with the severity of the offense. But instead of tightening the leash on such brutal criminals, the
The six Democratic members of the committee stood against the measure, casting aside concerns over the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable population. In contrast, Republican members remained firm in their commitment to child protection, unanimously voting in favor of the bill.
California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson didn’t mince her words when expressing her disdain, calling the bill’s failure “disgusting” and “heartless.” She wasn’t alone in her outrage; Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher argued that the “Democrats are looking out for the most vicious criminals at the expense of victims.”
Californian Democrats are ignoring a situation that’s spiraling out of control. Since January, the state has seen a surge in trafficking cases following the decriminalization of loitering with intent to commit prostitution under the guise of protecting transgender rights. Yet, the Democratic leadership remains silent, focusing more on so-called “woke” issues than addressing the clear and present danger to the state’s children.
Witnesses and survivors offered powerful testimonies during the hearing. Odessa Perkins, a survivor, condemned the negligence of progressive Democrats, emphasizing the importance of “saving our children.” She noted the alarming reality that traffickers are routinely released from prison and continue their cycle of atrocities with no fear, mainly due to the lax legal consequences.
Former Alameda County prosecutor Sharmin Bock gave weight to this assertion, testifying that human traffickers in California receive barely more than a few years of prison time and operate brazenly “because the law has no teeth.”
Meanwhile, Florida’s Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking a stand against human trafficking, recently demanding that Mark Zuckerberg account for the high volume of trafficking cases across Meta platforms.
This opposition to S.B. 14, despite clearing the California Senate unanimously with bipartisan support in May, is not just a failure of California Democrats but is a resounding betrayal of the people they are meant to represent. The cries of “horrible” echoing in the chamber during the hearing encapsulate public sentiment aptly.
With this decision, California Democrats have chosen a path that places ideology over safety, politics over people and perpetrators over victims. This move is an unmistakable contradiction for a party that prides itself on championing human rights and equality. One can only hope that S.B. 14 is reconsidered next year, with California’s leaders finally recognizing the urgency of combating human trafficking.
