Ron Gonzales: Those who voted for Prop 47 didn’t realize its drawbacks

Proposition 47 was sold to the public as a way to give those who needed it a second chance. Instead of going to prison for non-violent crimes such as drug possession, the state could save tax money and spend it on drug treatment. Prisons would be used only for the most violent criminals.

I guess day California voters decided to pass Prop. 47, they forgot that drug addicts usually steal to support their addictions. They also must have forgotten that those criminals sentenced in the past as felons can now own firearms because their sentences were reduced to misdemeanors. And it would be fair to say that at least six of 10 people in drug treatment programs have dropped out because now they don’t have any incentive to attend. The programs were set up to encourage attendance in exchange for a lesser sentence.

Prop 47 set a limit of $950 for a felony, meaning if someone steals a pair of $200 sunglasses from your car, it’s now a misdemeanor. It doesn’t take into consideration the $1,000 in damage done to the vehicle. The only people who won were those who got their sentences reduced and gun shop owners – who now have a lot of new customers.

This story was originally published December 1, 2014 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Ron Gonzales: Those who voted for Prop 47 didn’t realize its drawbacks."