CA tribes urge legislative action + Min opposes removing pride flag + Survey favors gun control

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CALIFORNIA TRIBES GATHER TO SEEK SUPPORT FOR ENDING ‘MISSING AND MURDERED’ EPIDEMIC

Tuesday marked the inaugural “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Day of Action” at the California Capitol, with several Native American tribal members coming to Sacramento to observe the occasion and advocate for legislative action.

That includes a pair of bills from Assemblyman James Ramos, D-San Bernardino, the lone Native American serving in the Legislature.

AB 44 would establish parity between tribal law enforcement and other police agencies in the state by allowing qualified tribal police officers to enforce state laws within their jurisdictions. It would allow access to the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, a network that contains both FBI- and DMV-administered databases, criminal histories and other records.

AB 273 would require counties and courts to notify tribes, key family members and attorneys when a child goes missing from a foster care placement. It also would require a judicial hearing when a child in foster care goes missing, to make certain that the child is found and returned to safety.

Ramos’ office notes that Native children in the foster care system are disproportionately more likely to go missing or become a murder victim.

Tribal leaders also called for the state to invest $200 million in programs and services to prevent people from becoming missing or murdered, and to support tribal-led response plans to the crisis.

California ranks in the top 10 of states for the number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person cases. The state also has the country’s largest Native American population.

“The devastating issue of (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons) has caused untold tragedy that often becomes long lingering ripples of grief and further tragedy,” Ramos said in a statement.

SEN. MIN WEIGHS IN ON HUNTINGTON BEACH PROPOSAL TO REMOVE LGBTQ FLAG

Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, has joined the chorus of voices opposing a Huntington Beach City Council member’s proposal to bar the LGBTQ pride flag from flying on city flagpoles.

Councilman Pat Burns told ABC7 that “special flags or recognition flags of some sort that aren’t governmental or representative of the community, as one, I don’t believe has a space on our government flag poles.”

Burns made an exception for the POW/MIA flag in his proposed ordinance.

“So many of the men gave all to give us the rights we enjoy today,” he said.

Min’s office, in a statement, noted that Huntington Beach has displayed the pride flag since 2021 in honor of Harvey Milk Day and LGBTQ Pride Month.

“The Pride Flag is such an important symbol of inclusion and diversity, and of celebrating our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender friends and neighbors. At a time when hate and discrimination against the LGBTQ community — and other marginalized groups — is at alarming levels, including in Surf City, it is more important than ever that our elected leaders make clear that all are welcome and cherished,” Min said in a statement.

He added that removing the pride flag would send the wrong message to residents and visitors.

CALIFORNIANS FAVOR STRONGER GUN CONTROL, SURVEY SAYS

Via Lindsey Holden...

A majority of Californians favor tighter gun control over laws protecting firearm ownership, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll.

PPIC conducted the survey from Jan. 13 to 20, before the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. Even so, 66% of likely voters said they believe in prioritizing controlling gun ownership over protecting gun ownership rights.

The share of voters taking this position has increased over the years. Just 49% of likely voters favored gun control in 2013, rising to 53% in 2015.

However, 74% of Republicans support gun ownership rights over gun control, a position shared by 34% of independents and 14% of Democrats.

Statewide, San Francisco-area residents showed the most support for gun control, with 74% favoring such policies. Central Valley residents were the least likely to push gun control over gun ownership rights, with 52% in support.

The survey showed that support for gun control grew among white Californians, Democrats, independents, 18-to 34-year-olds with some college education and those earning $80,000 or more per year.

Black Californians were the only racial or ethnic group to see a decline in the share of people prioritizing gun control over gun ownership.

Seventy-seven percent of Black Californians favored stronger gun control in 2013, but that number dropped to 58% in 2023.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Ethics Training for members! Always good to review laws that could get legislators in trouble: gifts, reporting, 700 forms, quid pro quo. Every year, elected officials get into trouble for conflicts, non reporting, and big stuff, like bribery! Important to know the laws that apply.”

- Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, via Twitter.

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