Assemblywoman Introduces Legislation to Reinstate Felony Penalties for Firearm Theft

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, introduced legislation this week that would allow voters a chance to reinstate felony penalties for firearm theft that had recently been reduced under Proposition 47 in 2014. 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.

“A criminal does not steal a gun for recreational use, they steal a gun to commit crimes,” said Melendez, the Vice Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. “It makes little sense that during a time when the legislature is pushing for harsher gun control laws for law abiding citizens we would relax the penalty for gun stealing criminals.”

If passed, AB 150 would send the issue of firearm theft back to the ballot as a stand-alone provision that voters could either reaffirm or reject.

“If Sacramento is serious about curtailing gun violence then it should do everything in its power to prevent guns from getting into the hands of criminals,” said Melendez. “In the end, I hope my colleagues will put the public’s safety over politics.”

--Information and Photo via Assemblywoman Melendez

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