Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who recently announced his gubernatorial campaign, is voicing strong opposition to a new California Assembly bill that he claims would make it illegal for residents to defend themselves against criminals.
The bill, AB 1333, was introduced on Feb. 21 by Assembly Member Rick Zbur of Santa Monica.
What the Bill Proposes
According to California’s Legislative Information website, AB 1333 aims to revise state laws regarding justifiable homicide by removing specific scenarios in which a person can claim self-defense, including the protection of their home or property.
The bill also seeks to clarify that homicide is not justifiable when an individual uses excessive force beyond what is necessary to protect themselves from harm.
Bianco’s Criticism
Bianco strongly condemned the bill, arguing that it favors criminals over law-abiding citizens and further limits the ability of Californians to protect themselves.
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“For years, Sacramento politicians have weakened law enforcement while protecting criminals—and now they’re going after the rights of residents to defend themselves,” Bianco stated on Tuesday.
He pointed to the state’s track record of early release policies for repeat offenders, stating that Californians have already been forced to defend themselves against dangerous criminals far too often.
Zbur Responds to Concerns
In response to public backlash, Assembly Member Zbur insisted that the bill was never meant to restrict a victim’s right to self-defense.
“The intent is to prevent situations where individuals, like Kyle Rittenhouse, provoke violence and then claim self-defense,” Zbur explained in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We will be amending the bill to make this absolutely clear.”
Rittenhouse, who was acquitted after claiming self-defense in the 2020 Kenosha, Wisconsin shootings, responded to Zbur’s statement online.
“I’ll see you in California,” Rittenhouse commented, suggesting he plans to oppose the bill in person.
Bianco’s Campaign
Bianco, who has served as Riverside County Sheriff, announced his bid for governor on Feb. 17. His tough-on-crime stance is expected to be a key issue in his campaign .
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