FRESNO (KMJ) — A valley State Assemblyman has announced plans to close what he calls loopholes in the law, which have come into force since the introduction of Proposition 47.
“Prop 47 is failure”, says Fresno Countys Sheriff Margaret Mims.
“Since the passage of proposition of Proposition 47 our neighborhoods have become less safe”, says Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.
“Something needs to be done”, says Andy Chikara of the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association.
“I think we were sold a proposition that promised one thing and has delivered something entirely different”, says State Assemblyman Jim Patterson.
He’s behind a bill which he claims will fix the issues identified with the changes brought about after Proposition 47’s passing, which was approved by the voters of California November 2014.
It’s set to be introduced in Sacramento in the coming weeks.
“It would put criminals behind bars after three offences committed in a three year period”, continues Assemblyman Patterson.
“But more importantly those who steal a gun would automatically and immediately be charged with a felony no matter how much the gun is worth”.
Currently crimes such as drug possession and petty thefts are classed as misdemeanors, instead of felonies, under the changes brought about since Proposition 47’s passing. Those in support of it state it prioritizes violent and dangerous crime.
“I’ve been in the legislature for going on four years now and I have dug through an awful lot of what some promised to be the kinds of fixes to public safety, and I have not been able to find or to see significant improvement in Prop 47 as a result”, concludes Assemblyman Patterson.
“It is never too late to do the right thing”.
You can the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew below:
