That’s Debatable

On Jan. 27, state Sen. Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), a candidate for the state attorney general’s office, announced that he has taken over authorship of Senate Bill 434, which would make it a felony to smuggle in or attempt to smuggle a cell phone into a state prison.

The bill’s intent is to prevent incarcerated gang members from communicating with their networks from their prison cells.

As Harman said: ‘Smuggled cell phones allow gangs to maintain their criminal networks and commit violent crimes. We don’t need these guys to have any kind of advantage.’

Should Harman’s bill make its way to the state Assembly floor, would you vote in favor of it or not? And why?

I would definitely support SB434. As a matter of fact, in 2007, I authored a very similar bill. Cell phones in prisons are a menace, and I have made crime-fighting a top priority during my time in the Legislature. I will continue working for tough laws that lock up gang members and full fund law enforcement so we can protect our community and keep the crime rate down.

All the prosperity in the world is meaningless if our families don’t feel safe at home.

Illegal cell phones are used to circumvent supervision of conversations, and can be used by inmates to orchestrate criminal activity, plan escapes, and be a menace outside of prison walls.

Our state needs more tough on crime measures like SB 434, Jessica’s Law, Megan’s Law, and Three Strikes, and an end to stop-gap measures like shortening of parole for convicted felons and release of felons from state prisons.

Assemblyman Van Tran

(R-Costa Mesa)

There is absolutely no good reason for any inmate to have a cell phone in prison. This is a worthy bill, and I intend to vote for it when it gets to the Assembly floor.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore

(R-Newport Beach)