Propositions 28 and 31 are the easiest ‘yes’ votes on the California ballot. They both benefit kids and families and protect children from predators. This post is intended to help you understand the issues and campaign.
There are three questions on the California ballot: Proposition 28, Proposition 31, and the proposition to abolish capital punishment. The top two questions on Proposition 28 are important to us in the public safety context, as well as for Californians who are involved in criminal law enforcement. Below is a brief statement about the two propositions.
First, Proposition 28:
Proposition 28 would reduce the criminal penalty for drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor, with a maximum of one year in state jail and a possible fine of up to $10,000. This would give the person only six months in jail and a possible fine of up to $3,000. In the drug possession context, Proposition 28 might be a big help to drug dealers and pushers.
There are more details about Proposition 28 and the issues surrounding it available from the California State Attorney General’s office. As detailed in an editorial by the editor-in-chief of the Orange County Register, the article “The criminalization of drug possession is a bad idea for taxpayers, law enforcement, and our criminal justice system” on page A15.
In November, Proposition 28 would also help California criminal justice system and public safety.
Second, Proposition 31:
Proposition 31 would raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes to 21 from 18. The initiative would also raise the minimum age for driving without a license to 21 from 18. Like Proposition 28, Proposition 31 would reduce the penalty for possessing a small amount of marijuana from felony to misdemeanor, and eliminate the sentence to be served, as well as the fine for possession of any amount of marijuana.
The article “The measure won’t be nearly as bad as you think” on page A17 of California’s Orange County Register by the editor and publisher explains the issues in Proposition 31.
More details on Proposition 31 and the issues surrounding it can be found from the California State Attorney General’s office. An earlier editorial article “The measure goes against the best interests of