Murrieta Assemblywoman's Gun Bill Fails In Committee

A bill authored by Murrieta's Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore, that would have increased penalties for possessing illegal firearms failed in committee Tuesday.

“It is disappointing and illogical for the liberal majority of the Assembly Public Safety Committee to reject my common-sense legislation," said Melendez following the rejection by the Assembly Public Safety Committee. "It appears they would rather target law-abiding gun owners with more restrictions rather than target criminals.”

The legislation, AB 1084, would have increased penalties for those who illegally possess firearms or those who knowingly provide arms to prohibited persons. In addition, the bill would have increased the penalties for those who use a firearm in a violent crime if they are convicted of illegal gun possession.

In a statement issued by Melendez, she argued that "liberal Democrats" blocked her bill to "get tough on gun criminals." She cited AB 109, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011 and forces jurisdictions to house their own non-violent offenders in local jails rather than state prisons, as a reason why some gun legislation is important. Riverside County Stan Sniff has said AB 109, otherwise known as realignment, is resulting in overcrowded jails and shortened sentences for some of the non-violent offenders.

Some of those early release inmates could be "gun criminals," Melendez argued.

"Most firearms-related crimes are not classified as 'serious' or 'violent,' leading to many gun criminals serving shortened sentences behind bars," the Melendez statement read.

"If the goal is to punish criminals who possess guns, then passing my bill was the answer. Yet the committee rejected it because they were concerned with prison overcrowding," the assemblywoman said.

“Given the recent mass shootings at places such as Newtown, Connecticut, and in Aurora, Colorado, we need to re-examine and reform the state’s firearms laws,” Melendez said. “My bill would have had the state treat gun criminals as the serious criminals they are. It is unfortunate that liberal Democrats chose to maintain the status quo. Despite today’s vote, I will continue to fight hard to protect Californians from people who should not own guns.”

Melendez’s bill is part of a package of Republican-authored reforms to fix the serious flaws with the Governor’s public safety realignment plan.

Assemblywoman Melissa 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 Lakeland Village, Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester.