California legislators want to repeal Prop 47 and’make crime legal again’

The voter-approved measure has been under intense scrutiny due to rampant theft in California over the past year.

“It has essentially allowed theft and open drug usage in California, culminating with these incredible smash-and-grab robberies,” Kevin Kiley, state Assemblyman, is one of three GOP legislators who introduced AB1599 in January. “Voters were grossly misled about the consequences of this.”

Prop47 was hailed by supporters as a step towards criminal justice reform. It reduced charges relating to certain thefts and drug possession offenses from a felony to a misdemeanor, if the goods stolen are less than $950. According to Kiley, whose assembly includes parts of Sacramento County northeast of San Francisco, thieves are now more likely to commit crime because of the low penalties.

The measure allows defendants who are serving sentences for felonies that would have been misdemeanors to petition courts to resentence under the new misdemeanor provisions. It also authorizes those who have served their sentences to request that their convictions be reclassified to misdemeanors.

He stated that the new legislation, which was introduced by Kiley and other legislators, would repeal much of Prop 47. This is to make crime “illegal again.”

Rudy Salas, Democratic Assemblyman, introduced AB 1603, his legislation to lower the threshold for shoplifting and petty theft from $950 down to $400. This is the same amount as Prop 47.

He said that he had seen the unintended effects of Prop 47’s weakening our theft laws. “I believe California voters will be ready to make their voices heard again on this issue,” he stated in a statement. “AB 1603 will give us that chance and will allow our state to stand up against the criminal gangs and theft that are plaguing it.”

Wednesday’s comment from Salas was not possible.

If AB 1599 passes and is signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom would be the final judge on Prop 47’s fate. Recent polling by the Institute of Governmental Studies at University of California, Berkeley and co-sponsored jointly by the Los Angeles Times found that majority of voters support Prop 47 changes.

Kiley said he recognizes the challenges of getting such a bill past California’s heavily Democratic-controlled Legislature.

He stated, “I think the situation is so dire that maybe even this Legislature can take action.”

Prop 47 was approved by almost 60% of voters. It was celebrated with great fanfare by criminal justice advocates as well as Democratic officials. It was also supported by dozens of social justice organizations and celebrities like Jay-Z and Brad Pitt.

Fox News reached out to Gov. Gavin Newsom, American Civil Liberties Union chapters located in Southern and Northern California, have spoken out about the repeal effort. The ACLU stated that no one was available for comment.

The ACLU NorCal supported the measure in 2014. They wrote that Prop 47 would lower the barriers that people with low-level, nonviolent felony convictions face in becoming stable and productive citizens.

California’s Republican legislators and law enforcement officers have long criticized Prop 47. However, it is now under scrutiny due to rampant theft by organized retail thieves who have taken over pharmacies, stores and other businesses in violent fashion.

Walgreens had to close many of its San Francisco stores due to thefts. This is where the worst acts of thievery occurred. The National Retail Federation’s 2021 security survey found that Los Angeles was the most targeted city for organized retail theft, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area.

The state capital of Sacramento was ranked eighth. Newsom announced the establishment of task forces across the state to combat organized crime after thefts increased in California last year.

Kiley stated that harsher penalties should be used to enforce the law and discourage theft.
There are people who will go into department shops and have a calculator with them,” he stated. They’ll add up the cost of the items they steal because they know that as long as the price is under $950 they can wave at security cameras on their way out. They know that there will be no consequences for doing so.