A new partnership between country music star John Rich and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aims to tackle the growing issue of online child exploitation. Rich appeared on "America’s Newsroom" to discuss his involvement in combating "sextortion" on social media platforms. This initiative comes as concerns about child safety online continue to rise.
In California, lawmakers are facing criticism over changes to a bill aimed at fighting child sex trafficking. Assembly Bill 379 originally included strict penalties for adults who buy sex from minors aged 16 and 17. However, the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, agreed to remove this provision to ensure the bill could advance. Now, solicitation of these minors will only be treated as a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
Krell expressed her disappointment about the amendment, stating, "This has been my life’s work, and I will continue to partner with sex trafficking survivors and law enforcement to ensure all minors are protected from the horrors of sex trafficking." Despite the changes, she emphasized that the bill still aims to penalize those who seek to exploit teenagers and includes provisions to support victims.
California Assembly Republicans quickly condemned the decision to ease penalties. They took to social media, questioning why some Democrats would choose to reduce charges for adults purchasing sex from older teens. Their message was clear: "Protect the kids. Not the predators."
This bill emerged after California passed a law making it a felony to buy sex from minors aged 15 and younger. However, the previous law left out 16 and 17-year-olds, prompting the need for new legislation. Krell’s bill aimed to close this gap but now faces hurdles due to the recent amendments.
Critics, including Republican State Rep. David Tangipa, have voiced concerns that the changes signal a lack of commitment to protecting minors. He argued that the focus should be on holding buyers accountable rather than reducing penalties.
As the debate continues, the future of AB 379 remains uncertain. The bill was recently dropped from the Public Safety Committee agenda, and lawmakers may consider holding hearings on the issue later this year. The ongoing discussions reflect a broader conversation about how best to combat child exploitation and trafficking in California and beyond.