Support for amendment to California stalking law - AB 2479

Moving for a vote before the California State Assembly is an amendment to California’s civil stalking law that will include “surveillance” as a basis to assert claims.  This addition is designed to prevent constant, non-consensual, and non-privileged surveillance of a person.  (Specific language has been built into the amendment excluding any official surveillance from being actionable.)  The PAPARAZZI Reform Initiative, Inc. emphatically supports this amendment.  It does so because this amendment will bolster protections for personal and public safety, individual privacy rights, and will reduce the risks of successful burglaries perpetrated in residential areas.  

Victims of domestic violence will no longer have to cope with the intense fear of being constantly watched from nearby vantage points by their deranged assailants.  Homeowners will no longer need to shudder at the prospect that their daily movements and homes are being observed by potential burglars seeking to strike at opportune times.  Individuals seeking to protect their privacy will no longer be without means to establish the sanctity of their personal lives.  Indeed, the “surveillance” amendment will do much to prevent many vulnerable victims from living in fear without the protection of the law.  

California pioneered America’s first anti-stalking law in 1990 in response to the stalking and murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer.  Now, it lags behind a growing number of states that have included “surveillance” in their stalking laws to reflect societal changes in the 21st Century.  Such states include: New York; Illinois; Colorado; Hawaii; Georgia; Idaho; New Mexico; South Carolina; and, Wyoming.  The District of Columbia has also joined this distinguished list.  It is time for California to do the same.

Californians should strongly urge their lawmakers to support the “surveillance” amendment (Assembly Bill 2479).  Doing so will encourage lawmakers to act in accordance with their function: to protect public safety and individual liberties.  Inaction may result in a victory for stalkers.

Letters of support may be sent to:

The Hon. Karen Bass
Speaker Emeritus
State Capitol, Room 319
Sacramento, CA 95814

Comments

[mary]

i think the celberitys are just like us and need there own lives and dont need to worrie about looking over there shoulder my god hasent anyone leard on the day diana pernses of whales was killed yea some say it was the paparize and some say othe but damit leav theses pepole alone hell no wonder why some quit the biz befor haveing the chance to have a carree of what they want in live

[Fabiola Murphy]

Thank you for this amendment. I feel it is necessary to protect those individuals (celebrities,athletes,etc) from being hounded on a daily basis. There home should be a sanctuary and peaceful place for them to retire to. Those individuals that do have the misfortune of being hounded by the paparazzi should be able to live their lives as private citizens and not worry about being followed WHICH IS DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING.
Those are my comments and I hope that they will be taken into consideration.
Fabiola

[Carol-JF]

It's a shame before God for celebs having to endure the punishment of the paparazzi... the cameras blind them, they set them up with the cameras and trip them down so that they would appear drunk. They also stalk them, they say all kinds of demeaning words to them, etc. These people are human beings. I am so angry at California for not having a law to better protect these people. When you protect them, then you are also protecting the citizens and the innocent children. It also scares me that these paparazzi seem very criminal. What's going to happen is that there will not be any celebrities in California if they don't do something about how the paparazzi conduct themselves with them. They should keep a certain distance, respect their privacy, and they should have a certain license to carry a certain long range distance camera. They need strict laws. Criminal, heartless acts should be held accountable. Please do something before something drastic happens to a celeb that we really care about.

[Addy Nestor]

The highly dangerous car tailing and stalking of paparazzi amoung celebrities is a public menace around California where a concentration of both abounds due to the Hollywood industry. One of the latest incident involved a young Bristish actor, Robert Pattinson, the video of the incident I believe is on You Tube and X-Online which occurred on July 25, 2010. Unfortunately, acccording to reports, it's the X-Online papps who instigated the stalking and car tailing. The young actor even requested LAPD Officers to intercede in his behalf but to no avail. If law enforcement officers of California cannot protect it's citizen or people on working visa, then who can? It's a bl;atant miscarriage of justice for what America stands for, Freedom, Liberty and Justice.

In this regard, we will be anticipating with earnest the passing of . Assembly Bill AB2479 for the protection of all individuals against harrassment & stalking. We don't want another incident of the magnitude of Princess Diana's tragic accident. We must act now !!!!!!!

[Addy Nestor]

The Paparazzi is a billion dollar industry. In this regard, I'd llike to foward the following questions to Hon. Karen Bass for consideration as soon as possible.

1) Do they have a governing body that monitors and regulate their activities, i.e. complaints, etc.
2) Do they have a Code of Ethics
3) Are they licensed to be a Paparazzi or anybody can randomly take a camer/video and start stalking people.
4) There should be a demarcation line wherein they are not allowed to take photos withn a certain radius so the
cameras are not into the faces of the celebrities that might cause temporary/permanent damage to the eyes.
5) There should be no verval taunting of celebrities to evoke emotions/response from them.

I firmly believe that if the industry is regulated, the papps will be accountable and responsible for what they are doing. We don't want to deny them earning a living.. but .. their freedom should not tresspass others for the pursuit of doing their job. We want fairness to all concerned.

[Tracey]

I have always thought the paparazzi were way out of line. Look at what happen to Princess Diana, omg that was totally their fault, I worry that will happen again.
I know they are doing this to earn money, but go out and do it honestly, and where it will not harm others in the process. I never buy the magazines or shows like TMZ. I was at a friend's home, when I caught something on tv, the paparazzi were basically chasing Robert Pattinson down, in his own car, following him, ohhhhhh I was plain pissed off. amd the police said they could do nothing, well I think they could have at least given Rpattinson a police escort, close enough to his designation. Such garbage!! I know if that was me, holy smokes I would have been beside myself!!

[enok]

you people need to get a life, is this really that important to you? think about this stupid reform not only is it unconstitutional and against the first amendment but just the fact that this paparazzi reform is even being taken into consideration is discrimination. You are all targeting a certain group of people. This reform is built especially to bring the paparazzi down... its not right.. if this is the way things are going to be california might as well let people be racist. YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES.. and to the "honorable" Karen Bass, if you can honestly tell me this isnt discrimination, i would love to hear from you!