In the quietness of Rio Linda in  Sacramento County, on September 18th, 2023, a mother held her son, Andres Chavez, in her arms until he breathed his last breath. He falls amongst countless victims; his life tragically ended not by an adult, but by a minor - one who, due to current Californian laws, will not face the full weight of justice for his actions.

Legislation as it stands, allows for individuals under 16, even if they perpetrate such heinous crimes as murder, to escape due sanction. Presently, they may face as little as 8 months in detention and cannot be charged as adults. This practice erodes the concept of justice, making the punishment incongruous with the crime.

The anguish of mourning families, like that of the Chavez family, is amplified by the realization that their loved ones' killers will evade the justice they deserve. They ruthlessly picked up a weapon, made a choice and ended a life. We must insist, as a society, that they must be made to truly pay for their crime, regardless of their age.

Governor Newsom, it falls on you to rectify the inadequacies of these laws that you helped establish. California needs to join the 45 states that exercise discretionary waiver laws, allowing courts the discretion to try minors as adults for serious offenses according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

We urge you to reconsider the current laws. Let us bring justice to victims like Andres Chavez and their grieving families. It's time to hold minors accountable to the same extent as adults when they've committed an adult crime. Please, sign and share this petition to amend the laws pertaining to juvenile offenders in California.