California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Bloodsaw, B263336 (Cal. App. 2016):
Finally, Bloodsaw contends construing section 667, subdivision (e)(2)(C)(iii)'s arming exclusion as he suggests comports with the electorate's intent to shorten sentences for less dangerous felons while ensuring the "truly dangerous felons [are] kept behind bars." (See People v. Brimmer, supra, 230 Cal.App.4th at p. 793 [discussion of electorate's intent].) He urges that the crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm is not categorized as a serious or violent offense; possession of a weapon is, by itself, lawful and does not present a public danger; section 1170.126, subdivision (f) suffices to protect public safety, in that it allows a trial court to deny resentencing to an eligible inmate if resentencing poses an unreasonable risk of danger; and an interpretation of section 667, subdivision (e)(2)(C)(iii) that excludes fewer inmates would further the electorate's goal of saving incarceration costs.
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Again, we disagree. The electorate was told in the relevant ballot materials that if the offender had committed gun-related felonies, or his or her current offense involved firearm possession, he or she would still be subject to a life sentence under the Three Strikes law. (See People v. Blakely, supra, 225 Cal.App.4th at p. 1055 [discussing Proposition 36 ballot materials].) Given these representations in the ballot materials, we think voters would be surprised to learn that the offense of being a felon in possession of a firearm could never exclude an inmate from eligibility.
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