Will California Crack Down on Child S*x Abuse?
The tide is turning in the state of California where a state bill is seeking to increase penalties for those who solicit sex from a child.
The bill was introduced by Republican Senator Sharon Grove alongside two of her Democrat colleagues.
According to Senator Grove’s website “Human trafficking, especially sex trafficking, severely violates innocent children, causing a lifetime of trauma and suffering. Sadly, our state ranks among the top in the nation for this crime. SB 1414 will make it a felony to solicit, agree to engage or engage in sex with minors for money. Buying a child for sex should be classified as the serious crime it is.”
At present, any person in the state of California who solicits, engages in or agrees to engage in commercial sex with a child is only charged with a misdemeanor. If convicted of seeking to sexually abuse a child, such an individual faces a misdemeanor charge, up to $10,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. Despite this, the law also states that such an individual can spend a mere two days in jail.
The updated bill would make the solicitation of a child a felony charge, increase the sentencing to two years behind bars whilst also upping the fine to $25,000.
Despite agreement amongst representatives, there was still opposition to this protectionary bill based upon several of its details.
Senator Scott Wiener stated that in his opinion, “This bill is incredibly overbroad.”
If Wiener is opposed, however, then you know there’s more to this fight than what meets the eye, seeing as he is a man with an extremely concerning history surrounding all matters that include the protection of children and society from criminals.
Thousands of pedophiles in California are going free after just a few months in jail, thanks to the state's radically reduced penalties for child molestation.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 29, 2022
One reason so many of these predators are going free so early is California lawmaker Scott Wiener.:thread: pic.twitter.com/Z2X8wBhRA0
One example is when Wiener introduced a bill that made California into a “safe haven” for children seeking out mutilating surgeries when unsupported by their parents. The law also revokes custody for parents who allow their children to get sex changes illegal in their states.
:thread: We’re announcing legislation to protect & grant refuge to trans kids & their parents who flee to CA from Texas, etc., in the event states try to separate these kids from their parents, criminalize the parents, or criminalize people coming to CA to receive gender-affirming care
— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) March 17, 2022
Ultimately, the Public Safety Committee which Wiener sits on, amended the bill. One amendment came in the form of stating that yes, solicitation of sex with a child could be classified as a felony only if that child was 15 years of age or younger. This means that a child who is 16 years of age could be solicited and there wouldn’t be a criminal charge.
Senator Grove stated that this amendment communicates that “16 and 17 year old don’t matter” and it “waters down” the bill.
Testifying at a Senate Public Safety Committee hearing, advocate and sexual abuse survivor Sandy Esparza shared her story of being trafficked as a teen.
Speaking in favor of SB 1414, Esparza stated, “At 14, I was first sold to men and purchased for sex throughout my teenage years. I was lured, tricked, threatened and forced to use drugs. At no point or at any age did I choose to be there.”
“Perhaps the justice ship has sailed for me. I’m okay with that. I’m not here for me. I’m here for them. For the children still out there being bought and sold, feeling afraid and forgotten. Aren’t they worthy of protection?”
Somewhat shockingly, a Democratic Senator named Susan Talamantes Eggman passionately spoke out against her party in the Senate chambers, expressing her refusal to be a part of protecting pedophiles anymore.
She added that she hopes that her Democrat colleagues won’t continue to protect them either.
Wow. You don’t see this everyday. CA Dem Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman called out her own party and said that she won’t be a part of protecting pedophiles anymore.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 29, 2024
She added that she hopes the other Democrats there won’t continue to protect them either.
She seems to imply… pic.twitter.com/CDjfAnk6pb
Conclusion
To answer Esparza’s question – yes, every vulnerable child is worthy of our protection, the Word of God is very clear on this matter.
Many of the children who face such devastating situations are often in abusive homes, have negligent parents or guardians or face a plethora of other devastating life situations, as such, they are pushed into these places of abuse.
Refusal to stand up for the rights and protections of children is an insult to our Creator as so clearly communicated in Philippians 2:4 “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
For such children in these vulnerable places and positions, we are called to “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” as it says in Isaiah 1:17.
Taking a stand doesn’t just revolve around the state house, it also includes our own homes and using the influence each one of us has to defend the rights of all who are destitute as shown to us in Proverbs 31:8-9.
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Thank you for your support.
If you appreciate the work we do to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, please consider giving a gift to help us continue this work. Maranatha!
Click an icon below to share this post.
All articles, including blogs and guest articles, published on Encounter News are owned by Encounter Today and Encounter News. The use of any content created and published by Encounter News may be quoted but attribution is required.
Portions of Encounter News articles may be used for reprint and republish purposes, but Encounter News MUST BE CREDITED.
All reprinted or republished articles must:
(1) Identify the author of the article.
(2) Contain the Encounter News byline at the beginning of the article and a hyperlink “Encounter News” to the respective article on the Encounter News website.
(3) Contain, at maximum, three paragraphs and then link back to the original article.