SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) issued the following statement in response to the California supermajority’s deeply troubling decision to vote down critical amendments on AB 379 that would have made it a felony for adults who attempt to buy and sell 16 and 17 year-old children for sex:
“These amendments would have added key protections for vulnerable minors. This was a commonsense opportunity to hold predators accountable and stand with victims — yet the majority chose to block it. Let me be clear: anyone who tries to buy or sell a minor for sex is a predator and should face felony-level consequences. Refusing to treat this as a serious crime sends a dangerous message. Protecting children from sex trafficking should not be controversial. I voted in favor of protecting all children because our kids deserve real protections.”
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