The Southern California Democrat who proposed making it illegal to use lethal force to defend your home has pulled the bill from further consideration.
Asm. Rick Chavez Zbur (D–Los Angeles) announced that he has withdrawn Assembly Bill 1333.
Driving the news: Current California law allows homicide if “committed in defense of habitation, property, or person” against someone who intends to commit a felony or intends to enter a home with violence, otherwise known as the “Castle doctrine.”
- AB 1333 would have eliminated that protection and added a number of other circumstances in which homicide is not justifiable, such as when a person uses more force than reasonably necessary to defend against a danger.
- Zbur quickly received severe backlash to his proposal from Republicans and later said the goal of AB 1333 was to “prevent wannabe vigilantes like Kyle Rittenhouse” from provoking violence and claiming self defense.
- He said the bill was never intended to limit a crime victim’s right to self defense, even though the language of the bill clearly restricted how people could defend their homes.
What he’s saying: Zbur announced that he withdrew the bill due to “misleading information” that was spread about AB 1333.
- “Unfortunately, misleading information has fueled fear and confusion about the bill,” Zbur said in a statement. “I have decided to withdraw AB 1333 from further consideration, once it is referred to committee on Thursday and has been amended to clarify items that caused confusion.”
Gubernatorial candidate responds: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, the lone Republican in the race for Governor, so far, called Zbur an “extremely dishonest politician” in a post on X.
- “You are an extremely dishonest politician,” Bianco said. “The bill is exactly what you intended. Unfortunately for you, the public became aware. Keep it up and your constituents will demand your resignation.”
