McClintock Spurns Assembly Motion to Honor Slain B.I.G.

Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) objected Monday when a fellow legislator asked that the state Assembly adjourn in memory of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G.

“Adjournments are reserved to honor Californians who have made positive contributions to our state,” said McClintock, whose district includes the northwestern San Fernando Valley, including Chatsworth and Granada Hills.

“It is totally inappropriate to honor an admitted drug dealer and convicted criminal whose work glamorizes murder, rape, suicide and drugs to children.”

But Assemblyman Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles), who made the motion, said his intent was to use the fatal shooting of B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, to draw attention to growing urban violence.

Murray stressed that the 24-year-old rapper was in the midst of turning his life around when he was gunned down after leaving a party early Sunday in the assemblyman’s Mid-Wilshire district.

“I don’t care if he was the most horrible guy in the world who killed a bunch of people,” Murray said. “He was a young, black man who had a following and he was tragically killed. He is a symbol of how horrible the violence is in our urban communities.”

After about two dozen Assembly members of both parties objected, Murray agreed to postpone his motion until Thursday to give legislators more time to consider the matter.

But McClintock predicted that Murray’s motion will face overwhelming opposition regardless of his reasoning.

“Charles Manson is trying to turn his life around, too,” McClintock said, “and I don’t think the California Assembly should adjourn in his honor either.”