Harris’ office leaves analysts in the dark on Prop. 47’s gun toll

Proposition 47 would not only make drug possession and thefts of items worth $950 or less a misdemeanor, it would downgrade the theft of guns worth less than that limit.

However, legislative analysts who wrote the impact statement provided to voters for Proposition 47 say they were stymied by Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris’ office when it came to quantifying those crimes.

Currently, theft becomes a felony if the object stolen is a gun, automobile or produce worth $250 or more. The new penal code makes theft of valuables worth $950 or less a misdemeanor no matter what is stolen. Federal data show the average value of a stolen firearm is $500.

The independent Legislative Analyst’s Office early this year asked Harris’ department for the number of convictions under the penal codes that Proposition 47 would reduce, but data dealing with gun and auto thefts were left out of those reports. After The Times in mid-October reported that gun-related thefts also were affected by Proposition 47, legislative staff said they twice repeated their request for the full number of convictions.

A spokesman for Harris’ office last week said the agency never received enough details to fulfill the request. The legislative analyst handling the request on Monday disputed that, saying he sent multiple emails repeating his request for a breakdown of the number of convictions under that penal code “and then never received a response.”

Harris’ office also denied requests by The Times for information on the number of gun-related theft convictions in California.

Opponents say the ballot initiative is too sweeping, allowing light sentences to those who steal guns, possess date-rape drugs or are repeat offenders.

Ballot proponents contend prosecutors could find other felony charges to press in gun-related cases. District attorneys say that is not always the case.

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