Community News
Open dialogue among community members is an important part of successful advocacy. Take Action California believes that the more information and discussion we have about what's important to us, the more empowered we all are to make change.
Attending the panel discussion on barriers to employment for
people with felonies, at the University of Redlands, was one of my first
experiences since getting out of prison where I truly felt a part of something.
The fact that it involved my personal experiences and the ones I left behind
made it easy for me to engage in discussions that I have knowledge and passion
about. I was able to identify with the questions and give honest feedback that
I feel will contribute to change in policies that create barriers to people
with past felony convictions. This experience not only gave me visuals of all the things that are at
my fingertips that can benefit me and my struggles, but it was one of the most
exciting moments I have had since getting out of prison. It was empowering to
know that the community I live in actually wanted to receive the information I
had to give without judgment; their understanding made me feel appreciated.
There are lot of programs and resources in prison, but due
to our limited contact with the free world, we are unaware of paths that are
being paved for our benefit on the outside, so it was really refreshing to discuss
AB 218, also known as Ban the Box, and Proposition 47. I felt honored that I was invited to this
event. It showed me that my wants and needs are being recognized and
understood. To meet new people, hear what they have to say about such a
passionate issue of mine, was so touching to my heart. I was able to show my
feelings of appreciation with those around me by giving some insight of the
employment struggle that I am going through and how Prop 47 will affect my
everyday living with those around me.
Overall, I felt very involved being a part of a group of
people that are trying to help people like me who want to make a change for themselves.
Knowing my position as a citizen in the community and what I can do for myself
and for my community has empowered me to spread the word using the information
that was given to me in my present situation and the future. I am ready!
LeSaundra
Jenkins
Want to get your records expunged?
Come to the Background Relief Clinic!
Friday February 13, 2015
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Universalist Unitarian Church
3657 Lemon Street
Riverside CA 92501
Lawmakers pressed officials
on Monday to improve the speed and efficiency of a state program used to seize
guns from Californians prohibited from owning firearms.
Known as the Armed
Prohibited Persons System, the program examined in a recent
state audit targets Californians who became ineligible to own guns due to
mental illness or criminal convictions. As of Jan. 1, the Department of Justice
will be able to compare the list against a
data on long gun purchases made after that date.
Among the issues
spotlighted during a Wednesday hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee
were a massive backlog of gun owners yet to be reviewed and gaps in
communication between courts and mental health providers, who are able to
determine when someone forfeits his right to possess firearms, and the Department
of Justice.
"I want to get this
problem solved," said Assemblyman Allan
Mansoor, R-Costa Mesa, who peppered witnesses with questions
about data sharing. "I think it's embarrassing, quite frankly."
Three courts surveyed by
the state auditor's office failed to consistently report banned individuals to
the Department of Justice, State Auditor Elaine
Howle said. The audit found 22 mental health facilities not on
the Department of Justice's outreach list.
Howle recommended that
courts, like mental health facilities, be required to communicate with the
Department of Justice within 24 hours of determining someone should be barred
from owning guns.
"We think the
department of justice needs to do a better job of reaching out to courts and
reminding them of their reporting requirements," Howle said.
Amid a broad push for
tighter gun control laws, the Legislature this year approved
an extra $24 million for recovering guns from people on the prohibited
persons list. California has confiscated about 4,000 guns in sweeps since 2011,
Howle said.
In a sign of strain on the
program, the Department of Justice hadn't vetted the status of some 380,000 gun
owners as of July. Steve
Lindley, director of the California Department of Justice's
Bureau of Firearms, said they have since reduced that backlog by about 47,000
people.
Enforcement appears to be
lagging as well: the state audit found 20,800 people with mental illness who
had not had their guns confiscated.
The department seems likely
to have plenty of incoming information to occupy staff: Lindley noted that
firearms sales have risen dramatically over the last few years, from 600,000 in
2011 to more than one million in 2013.
PHOTO: Blake Prior,
center, completes paperwork for the purchase of a rifle at Auburn Outdoor
Sports Wednesday December 11, 2013 in Auburn, Calif. The Sacramento Bee/Paul
Kitagaki Jr.
via: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/12/california-lawmakers-question-gun-confiscation-program-backlog.html
