Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) has introduced Assembly Bill 38, which seeks to close a shocking gap in the law by classifying the rape of a developmentally disabled minor as a violent felony, ensuring that predators face the full force of justice.
“This is a nightmare scenario—a child who already faces immense challenges being preyed upon by someone who exploits their innocence and vulnerability. If this isn’t a violent crime, what is?” Lackey demanded.
Statistics from the Bureau of Justice reveal that individuals with disabilities face sexual violence at rates five times higher than those without a disability.
For years, the Governor and the Democratic supermajority have chosen leniency over protection, rejecting efforts like AB 38 that prioritize the safety of our most at risk citizens.
“California leadership has repeatedly turned their backs on our most vulnerable children. Enough is enough. Justice and safety must come before political agendas. Protecting the vulnerable should not be partisan.”
The silence from California’s leadership on this issue is deafening. Victims and their families are left with lifelong scars, while predators escape the harshest consequences due to a system more concerned with ideological posturing than justice.
“These children cannot speak for themselves, but their suffering necessitates action. It is our moral duty to act,” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey.
California must decide what kind of state it wants to be—one that protects the innocent or one that shelters the guilty.
