Kourtney Berry 
Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by a gunman identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Cook in Butler, Pennsylvania—the most recent Presidential assassination since former President Ronald Reagan. The conversations around gun laws underscore the urgency of the situation and have reached a peak due to videos uploaded to social media demonstrating rally attendees who were aware of the shooter before law enforcement and the Secret Service.
Trump’s incident highlights the crucial role of public awareness in preventing such attacks. It also begs the question of how a young man had such easy access to a roof yards away from a presidential candidate’s campaign rally to carry out such a task, which is puzzling many local lawmakers. This emphasizes the need for immediate and decisive action.
The Sacramento Observer reported that there was a rising concern for the safety of political officials in recent years. Last spring, California assembly member Isaac Bryan was threatened with being lynched due to a bill he introduced. Another assembly member, Mia Monta, was threatened when she refused to vote on a bill.
“The Secretary of the Senate and chief administrative officer of the Assembly said that there has been heightened concern about political violence in recent years, and a bill is underway to protect California lawmakers and candidates from rampant threats,” according to the news publication.
Assembly Bill 2041, a beacon of hope, would give candidates and officials access to more funds for personal, family, and staff security protection. Bonta is carrying the AB 2041 and hopes to “see it across the finish line for the safety of candidates across the state.” The bill is currently in second review; if passed, it could be enacted in the November election. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill because it did not clearly define “security expenses.”
However, Bonta’s bill has been amended to outline “security expenses” and disclose transparency requirements. The bill is currently in the second review; according to Bonta’s office, it’s expected to be up for a floor vote in the Senate after the summer recess in August. There have been no reported votes of opposition so far; however, three Republican senators voted against last year’s bill.
Since the assassination attempt, lawmakers have been on edge, and there is a newfound hope to offer to lawmakers and officials.
Demanyé 
Alex Tisdale 
