The Sacramento Bee said the recent state Senate bill that would make child trafficking a "serious felony" that initially died in committee but was then revived after backlash was because Republicans accused Democrats of supporting child exploitation.
The Bee ran their headline with "Death threats and pedophilia accusations. How child trafficking took over California’s Capitol" and claimed state Republicans employed "simplistic, fear-based messaging that exploited the divide between progressive and moderate Democrats on criminal justice reform. Social media posts amplifying the bill’s failure suggested Democrats are soft on crime, especially related to children."
The Bee then goes on to blame Republicans for not providing "context" about the penalties human traffickers could already face if convicted:
Republicans pushed social media messages saying Democrats rejected efforts to make trafficking of minors a serious felony. The posts did not include any context around existing penalties or what a serious felony means in California...Human trafficking has long been a strong issue for Republicans. This is especially true in far right corners of the party, where conspiracy theorists have perpetuated myths that Democratic leaders are trafficking children.
California Assembly Majority Leader Isaac Bryan (D) said on Twitter people saying they should be "sex trafficked is a reminder that this was not a policy conversation. It is also a reminder for me to always treat others with dignity, compassion, [and] respect - even when it feels hard to justify why."
The number of times in the last day people have suggested my Fiancé & family be sex trafficked is a reminder that this was not a policy conversation
— Isaac G. Bryan (@ib2_real) July 13, 2023
It is also a reminder for me to always treat others with dignity, compassion, & respect - even when it feels hard to justify why.
Governor Gavin Newsom (D) pushed state lawmakers to revive the bill after it was blocked by the committee where it was introduced.
