Philip Melendez
@thephilmelendez
Incarcerated for 20 yrs. Survived many quarantines and lockdowns. Director of Organizing at Re:Store Justice. @restore_cal Opinions are my own.
ID:978657753735471104
http://restorecal.org 27-03-2018 15:39:25
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A8: If ppl want to support AB 1509, check out this Toolkit bit.ly/AB1509toolkit it has all the info needed to support the bill. Also, contact your Legislator, find them at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov & ask them to support AB 1509 #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
AB 1509 would mean freedom for people like my best friend Nateel. His sentence is 31 years, 25 of which is gun enhancement time. That’s 5x times as long just for the enhancement. #SupportAB1509 #PassAB1509
A7: When this bill passes, my cousins husband & a childhood friend of mine will be home. Useless spending on mass incarceration will end. The positive ripple effects ppl who return home will have on the community are immeasureable. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
A5: No, gun enhancements can be charged even if a gun isn’t used, isn't physically recovered, if a gun isn’t loaded or operable, or if a BB gun is used instead. Testimony about the gun is all that is needed. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
Does any1 remember the tough on crime era in the 90s? 🤨 Yep. Enhancements came out of this period in 1997. There's no evidence that adding time 2 some1's sentence can improve public safety. Instead, we've enhanced systemic racism & failed 2 keep our communities safe. #PassAB1509
A5: No, gun enhancements can be charged even if a gun isn’t used, isn't physically recovered, if a gun isn’t loaded or operable, or if a BB gun is used instead. Testimony, this includes false ones as well, about the gun is all that is needed. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
Gun control laws are about prevention. Gun enhancement sentencing laws are after the fact & are racist & abusive. Gun enhancements do NOT prevent violence & are NOT gun control laws. #PassAB1509 #EndEnhancements
A6: Gun control laws are aimed at limiting ppls access to guns. These are more about prevention than gun enhancement laws. Because the enhancement is only applied after harm was committed. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
Most people don't realize: gun enhancements can be charged even if a gun isn’t used, isn't physically recovered, if a gun isn’t loaded or operable, or if a BB gun is used instead. TESTIMONY about the gun is all that is needed. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
A4: Gun enhancements laws were passed in CA in 1997 during the tough-on -crime era. The underpinnings of sentencing enhancements and tough-on-crime era is flat out racism.There is ZERO evidence these laws improve public safety. #PassAB1509
A5: No. Ppl can be charged w/ gun enhancements even if there was no gun used. All it takes is someone to claim there was a gun. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
Gun enhancements came from the 'tough on crime' era. They've never worked, but were enacted through fear mongering. And they are still used to that effect today by pointing at lengthy sentences to prove ppls 'dangerousness' #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
A3: No, giving someone an xtra 10, 20, or 25-to-life on top of their sentence is not an effective deterrent. Effective deterrence looks like meeting people’s basic needs & keeping guns out of their hands, not giving them an extreme sentences once harm has occurred. #SupportAB1509
Of the 40k individuals who have gun enhancements, 89% of them (yes!!!! Almost ALL of them) are people of color. That's 9 out of 10 people who we are spending more time in prison just because of this extra time added to their sentence! #EndEnhancements #SupportAB1509
A3: No. Gun enhancement laws have been in place for decades and have not deterred gun violence. They have not increased public safety. They only increased the length of sentences which only added to mass incarceration. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements
A1: AB 1509 is a bill aimed at ending sentencing abuse in CA. Sentencing enhancements do not create safety. They are used to extract lengthy plea deals and are applied in a racist and unfairly manner. #SupportAB1509 #EndEnhancements