Progressives are sending a new message to the American public that sex trafficking of minors is not a serious crime.

Six liberals on the California Legislative Public Safety Commission led the legislature to sink to its lowest point Democrats hold majority in de facto killings The bill would classify the crime as a “serious felony.” Presented by Republican Shannon Grovethe law redefines minor sex trafficking under California law as a “serious” crime and ensures that such violations are subject to the “three strikes” fines reserved for the most serious legal offenders.

The liberal opposition has put the bill on hold on the grounds that it is not.PerfectAnd while intense public pressure led to a re-vote and the bill finally moved forward, it’s hard to shake off the idea that Democrats and their allies downplay the dangers of modern-day slavery. The Progressive Left has gone so far for government programs and snake oil elixir to cure the “root problem” where liberals lose sight of good and evil, good and evil, and what communities want in their families: safety.

American expect responsibility For abominable lawbreakers. California’s bill redefining sex trafficking as a violent crime is in line with the sentiments of voters on both sides of the aisle. recent polls The survey found that 90% of Republican voters, 78% of independent voters and 68% of Democratic voters believe that human trafficking is a major problem in the United States and that not enough is being done to solve it. Responsibility recognizes the vileness of the crimes committed and demands appropriate punishment.

Republicans have historically taken the lead in tackling some of our society’s most pressing issues and fostering fairer institutions that keep families safe. With a moral compass more deeply rooted in values ​​than situational ethics, conservatives demand accountability for criminals and support policies and politicians that support law enforcement and focus on remediation.

Police and investigators in cities across the country are undoubtedly on the front lines of sex trafficking. Therefore, any effort to combat sex trafficking must begin with a well-trained and well-equipped police force. This concept 87 percent of Republicans They believe the call to defund the police is misguided and neither effective nor realistic in the real world. A pragmatic leader would recognize and respond to the police need to track down sex traffickers.

But the opportunities for Republican leadership are not limited to filling the void in properly punishing heinous crimes such as sex trafficking.conservatives too support overwhelmingly It focuses on the rehabilitation of low-level criminals, addressing the needs of those who have fallen into bad situations and perhaps made even worse decisions.

and hundreds of thousands of victims In the sex trade alone in the United States, victims often break numerous laws, ranging from prostitution and drug use to soliciting traffickers. In cases where incarceration is considered appropriate, more than 82% of Republicans believe the incarceration process should balance punishment and accountability with efforts to impart the knowledge and skills to incarcerated men and women to be productive and successful members of their communities when released from prison. Our laws should be designed to hold the most egregious offenders accountable, while providing avenues of rehabilitation for those who get the chance.

Americans are dissatisfied with the criminal justice system in general and want conservative leadership to lead us towards a safer and more decent society. Conservative voters are particularly dissatisfied with the status quo, with 69% of Republicans feeling that the criminal justice system is “not working very well” or “not working well at all.” vote Commissioned by The Adams Project. Last week’s California Legislative Public Safety Commission vote showed the progressive left lost its way and its ability to serve the most basic needs of a functioning society. But the real call to action is for conservative lawmakers to listen to their constituencies, support law enforcement, demand accountability, and get us back to a balanced criminal justice policy focused on rehabilitation.

Micah Derry is the president and CEO of The Adams Project. Frank Russo is Deputy General Counsel and Director of the Anti-Trafficking CPAC Center.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.