Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that advocates say help close dangerous legal loopholes that previously left communities vulnerable to violent targeting and threats.
Senate Bill 19, advanced by Assm. Darshana Patel of San Diego and Sen. Susan Rubio of Baldwin Park, both Democrats, allows prosecutors to take action on credible threats of violence against schools and places of worship without having to prove danger to specific individuals connected to those institutions.
“When Shoal Creek Elementary School in my district received hundreds of threats, parents were terrified, kids were afraid to go to school, and educators were frightened to teach,” said Patel in a statement. “Our community was frozen in fear, but our laws couldn’t protect them because threats were only considered a crime when a specific individual was named and in sustained fear.”
She said that the loophole left entire communities vulnerable and let perpetrators walk free.
“The bill responds to real-world incidents where threats of mass shootings or bombings were dismissed or uncharged because they targeted schools or faith communities broadly,” said an explainer on Sen. Rubio’s official page. “It ensures prosecutors and law enforcement have the tools they need to act before violence occurs.”
Under previous law, prosecutors had to prove an individual victim was in sustained fear, preventing holding perpetrators accountable for threats against institutions such as schools, medical facilities, and places of worship, even when people are inside.
The measure establishes that threats against the institutions themselves are illegal and prosecutable.
“This new law closes a dangerous loophole that allowed people to post violent threats targeting schools, places of worship, and other public spaces without consequence,” said San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan.
“By explicitly making these threats criminal, we can better protect our communities, hold individuals accountable for reckless and harmful online behavior, and prevent acts of mass violence before they happen.”
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