Sacramento’s Disgrace: Legislature Abandons Teens to Predators

Cowardly Vote Shields Sex Traffickers, Defies Public Outrage, and Betrays California’s Vulnerable Youth

In a shocking display of moral cowardice, extreme Democratic legislators in the majority of California’s Assembly Public Safety Committee killed a bill on Tuesday that would have made it a felony to purchase 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. This vote on Assembly Bill 379, authored by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell (D-Sacramento), exposes a Sacramento legislative caucus utterly disconnected from the values of ordinary Californians. By refusing to close a loophole that treats predators with leniency, these lawmakers have prioritized political posturing over protecting vulnerable children, leaving the public outraged and betrayed.

The decision is a slap in the face to common decency. While trafficking minors is a felony, buying 16- and 17-year-olds for sex remains a misdemeanor in many cases or a discretionary felony, creating inconsistent justice. Krell, a former trafficking prosecutor, voiced her dismay: “I don’t think we’re doing enough to protect children from sex trafficking. Right now, there are 16- and 17-year-olds being sold for sex, and that’s not okay.” Her plea reflects the urgency felt by everyday Californians, who see child exploitation as a clear moral evil, not a “narrow” issue, as committee chairman Assemblyman Nick Schultz (D) callously claimed.

This vote reveals a legislative elite in Sacramento wholly out of step with the public’s demand for justice. Normal people—parents, neighbors, and communities—understand that protecting teens from predators is non-negotiable. Yet, the Democratic caucus’s refusal to act suggests a troubling tolerance for exploitation. Senator Shannon Grove (R), who fought for felony penalties for younger victims, called last year’s compromise on 15-and-under protections an “ultimatum” that left older teens vulnerable. “It was either move forward with 15 and below or get nothing,” she said. So last year the Democrat majority refused to provide the same protections to 16 and 17-year-olds, and their refusal to extend protections to them again just this week mocks the values of Californians who expect their leaders to shield all children.

With child trafficking in Los Angeles up 150% since 2020, the public’s call for action is clear. Governor Newsom, who supported the bill, must now confront a legislature adrift from reality. This shameful vote demands accountability and a reckoning for a Democratic caucus with a moral compass that is totally screwed up.