California State Senator Susan Eggman, a self-described progressive, recently voiced sharp criticism of her own party members over their reluctance to support harsher penalties against individuals exploiting minors.

As reported by MSN, Eggman, representing a district near San Francisco, made her impassioned stance clear last Thursday on the Senate floor, where she advocated for Senate Bill 1414, aimed at significantly increasing prison time for those caught soliciting or purchasing sex from minors.

Expressing her frustration, Eggman declared, “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,”

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She emphasized her discontent with the leniency some lawmakers have shown toward offenders, saying, “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.”

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Her fiery address revealed a deep-seated frustration with the ongoing tolerance for those who exploit vulnerable children.

Currently, California law classifies purchasing or soliciting a minor for commercial sex as a misdemeanor, carrying penalties ranging from a mere two days to a year in jail, alongside a fine of up to $10,000.

The proposed bill, introduced by Republican Senator Shannon Grove and co-sponsored by Eggman, seeks to raise this offense to a felony, with sentencing guidelines extending to two to four years of prison time.

Additionally, the bill would mandate sex offender registration for those convicted, a move aimed at discouraging such crimes through tougher legal consequences.

However, progress on the bill hit a roadblock when some Democratic legislators sought to dilute its impact. They proposed amendments limiting the felony classification to cases involving minors under 16, a change that Eggman openly criticized.

She underscored the need to protect all minors from such exploitation, advocating for a broader application of the bill to send a clear message against child exploitation.

While the bill’s opponents argue against increasing incarceration rates, Eggman voiced her dismay with such arguments, calling for urgent action to prioritize children’s safety over concerns about prison demographics.

Her stance is a notable deviation from the typical progressive viewpoint on criminal justice reform, highlighting an internal divide among lawmakers on how best to protect minors.

This latest legislative debate reflects a larger issue within the state, as lawmakers attempt to balance criminal justice reform with the need to protect vulnerable groups.

Eggman’s passionate advocacy suggests a growing frustration among some members who feel that, in the rush for reform, protection for victims, especially minors, is being sidelined.

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