ACRAMENTO – Republican Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, announced Friday that Governor Brown vetoed her legislation, AB 1176, joint authored with Assemblymembers Jim Cooper, D-Elk Grove, and Adam Gray, D-Merced, to reinstate felony penalties for firearm theft that had been reduced under Proposition 47.
“Apparently, Governor Brown believes stealing a gun isn’t a serious threat to public safety,” said Melendez, the Vice Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. “I ask the Governor to tell that to the families who have had loved ones murdered by stolen firearms.”
Prior to the passage of Proposition 47, stealing any type of firearm was considered felony grand theft. Proposition 47 reduced the penalty to a misdemeanor for firearms that are valued at under $950.
Last year, Melendez introduced Assembly Bill 150, the first iteration of this legislation. Though gaining traction early by receiving unanimous support in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, the Assembly Appropriations Committee killed the legislation. This year, Melendez reintroduced the legislation under Assembly Bill 1869 and later combined the legislation with Assemblyman Cooper’s Assembly Bill 1176.
“It’s baffling. After a week where the Legislature passed numerous anti-gun laws aimed not at criminals, but at law abiding citizens, the only sensible legislation that specifically targeted criminals the Governor vetoes,” said Melendez. “When will the Democrats stop protecting criminals and start defending the rights of Californians?”
Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester. Follow her on Twitter: @asmMelendez
