California Democrat slams party over laxed prison sentences for pedophiles

A progressive Democrat in California blasted her party in a floor speech in the state Senate last week for trying to water down a crime bill that would increase prison sentences for pedophiles. 

State Sen. Susan Eggman backed a bill introduced by Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove that would increase prison sentences for adults who solicit minors for sex to a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years. Current year sets the penalty range from two days to a year. The bill would also make the person register as a sex offender, and make the crime a felony instead of misdemeanor.

Eggman said she was not trying to throw more people into prison, but rather protect children, including those who fall between the cracks because they are poor or a minority, the New York Post reported.

“I’d like to say as a progressive, proud member of this body for the last 12 years, I’m done. I’m done with us protecting people who would buy and abuse our children. I’m done,” Eggman said. “I don’t want to send more black and brown men to prison. I don’t want more people in prison, but I don’t want people buying girls. I don’t want people buying little girls anymore. I’m tired of saying it’s okay and that we have to protect the men who do it.”

The bill comes as Democrats in the liberal state disagree on how to curb the state's prison population, while also combating high crime rates. But Democrats who tried to water down the bill sought to make soliciting sex from a minor a felony if the child was under 16.

The state senator said it was important for the party to unite on this issue, because otherwise they would be laughingstocks and "look like fools."

“I am not arguing that we open the gates to flood our prisons with people, but I am arguing that we have a moral responsibility to say, ‘Enough, enough,'” Eggman said. “A lot of these kids can be throwaway kids. They’re poor kids, they’re kids of color, but they shouldn’t have to live a life determined by what happens to them by others at a very young age and have the Democratic Party of California say, ‘It’s okay.' It’s not okay. And I’m not doing it anymore. And I hope none of you do too. We have to be able to draw a line.”

The bill passed the state Senate unanimously, and advanced to the state Assembly. If it passes there, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has indicated support for the bill, is expected to sign it.