Blue-state sheriff unloads on proposed bill that would make many acts of self-defense illegal

Republican critics in California, including one sheriff, are in an uproar over a proposed bill that they say would essentially make many acts of self-defense illegal.

Proposed by Assemblymember Rick Zbur, a Democrat, Assembly Bill 1333 (AB1333) would make it much more difficult for someone who killed another person in self-defense to go home free.

For example, someone who opened fire on an intruder outside their home would most likely be prosecuted for not having safely retreated back inside their home and shut/locked the door.

Similarly, someone who killed another individual while engaged in mutual combat or after provoking the diseased person would also most likely face prosecution.

Zbur was inspired to draft the bill by the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, the former teen who was acquitted of justifiably killing two left-wing extremists in self-defense during the deadly Black Lives Matter riots.

AB 1333 was never intended to limit a crime victim’s right to defend yourself, your family, or home. The goal is to prevent wannabe vigilantes like Kyle Rittenhouse from provoking violence & claiming self defense after the fact. We will amend the bill to make this crystal clear.

— Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (@AsmRickZbur) February 25, 2025

“What this bill is focused on is someone who goes out in public, picks a fight — and when the victim responds — they shoot them and claim self-defense,” Zbur claimed in a statement to CalMatters.

That, of course, is not at all what happened during the Rittenhouse case. As previously reported, the extremists Rittenhouse ultimately killed chased after him with the intent to hurt and potentially kill him first.

California Republicans have slammed Zbur’s bill.

Assemblymember David Tangipa, a Republican, warned that the bill would allow California to punish crime victims if they don’t “exhaust all options” before opening fire on the person trying to rob, rape, or kill them.

“We have situations where police have to react in the moment, and those are trained individuals,” he told CalMatters. “Now we’re asking people who are untrained to make decisions that could cost them their lives. … It doesn’t matter the (bill’s) intentions, it’s the implications at the end of the road.”

Assemblymember Tom Lackey, another Republican, called the bill “ludicrous, dangerous and deplorable.”

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco agrees.

“This Assembly member that has come up with this, if it was his idea, he certainly has absolutely no business being an assembly member representing people,” Bianco told Fox News.

“They want criminals to thrive. It’s just bizarre to me. How you could even have the thought process that says people should not be able to protect themselves is beyond me. Honestly, I don’t understand it. And I’ve never heard a sane, legitimate argument otherwise,” he added.

Bianco recently went viral for excoriating the bill in a video he posted to social media:

Directly from California Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, if New Bill AB1333 is passed you will not be able to legally protect yourself

“If a criminal attacks you or your family and you defend yourself and that criminal dies as a result of his criminal behavior, you… pic.twitter.com/pcKZI1DFrv

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 7, 2025

Continuing his remarks to Fox News, Bianco warned that the bill would make it far more difficult for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves from dangerous criminals.

“This is basically saying if someone approaches you and is going to rob you or steal your stuff or harm you, your only option is to run, and they get whatever they want,” he said. “If they’re there to steal your car and or your purse or your wallet or to harm your wife or your kids, your only option is to run away from them.”

“They get to do whatever it is they want, and you just have to run away. And this is like the absolute ultimate display of zero consequence for criminal behavior,” he added.

Bianco, who’s currently running for state governor, further noted that nobody he’s met on the campaign trail supports the bill.

“There is no one,” he swore. “There is no one other than the Democrats in Sacramento [the state capital] who think this is a good idea.”

That’s why he’s happy that his criticism of the bill has gone viral. He’s even confident that the growing backlash will be enough to prevent it from becoming law.

“So this bill, there’s no way this bill is ever going to pass,” he said.

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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