In a victory for common sense, human rights, and the Second Amendment, a California Democrat assemblyman, Rick Zbur, has withdrawn his own bill, which would have gutted legal protections for innocent citizens who use force in self-defense.
AB 1333 is Dead: Assemblyman Zbur Withdraws Bill Limiting Self-Defense.
‘If the bill was supposed to stop vigilantes, then why did so many law enforcement officials denounce it?@CaliforniaGlobe https://t.co/vixOKRoNTg pic.twitter.com/ATZ03H9JJM
— California Globe (@CaliforniaGlobe) March 13, 2025
The California Globe has more details on AB 1333:
Assemblyman Rick Zbur (D-Los Angeles) announced late on Wednesday that he would be withdrawing his new self-defense limitation bill following significant public backlash and confusing language in the bill.
Assembly Bill 1333, which was introduced last month, would have eliminated certain circumstances under which homicide is justifiable, including, among others, in defense of a habitation or property. The bill would have also additionally clarified circumstances in which homicide is not justifiable, including, among others, when a person uses more force than necessary to defend against a danger.
Zbur said that AB 1333 would simply close a “legal loophole” over public confrontations and then claiming self-defense. However, AB 1333 instead sparking public outrage. Many pointed out that the bill would severely limit self defense against crime and leave open questions into when homicide was and wasn’t legal.
In non-political speech, this law could have implemented serious legal dangers, with one GOP assemblyman calling it a “complete assault on self defense.” Both Republicans and Democrats balked, forcing Zbur to withdraw the bill:
“This bill is a complete assault on self defense!” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) last month. “Imagine this: A violent criminal breaks into your home, and YOU have to second-guess whether defending your family is ‘justifiable.’ The misguided energy behind this proposal is beyond comprehension.”
Flooded with criticism from both Republicans and some Democrats, Zbur swiftly responded on X, saying that he wanted to target vigilantes and that AB 1333 would be amended soon to clarify the bill language.
As with so many poorly thought-out gun and self-defense laws, this proposal would never have any effect on criminals but would only serve to place innocent citizens in the position to choose between suffering a criminal attack or suffering legal hassles and possible jail time.
Fortunately, this bad idea died on the vine. Notice the unnecessary attack on Kyle Rittenhouse:
“AB 1333 was never intended to limit a crime victim’s right to defend yourself, your family, or home,” Zbur posted on X. “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.”
However, this did little to stop the growing amount of criticism. By early March county sheriffs from across California and crime victim groups joined in, furthering the backlash. While bill supporters continued to defend it, AB 1333 was seen by many as beyond repair. This led to Wednesday when Assemblyman Zbur officially pulled the bill, withdrawing it following committee placement and a final amendment.
I reported on this bill at its introduction in February:
Previously on RedState: California Legislator Introduces Bill to Gut Self-Defense Protections for Citizens
At that time, I wrote:
The citizens have the right to defend themselves, their families, their property, and their communities. That’s a fundamental human right. And, yes, we have the right, when confronted by armed goblins, to use whatever force is required to protect ourselves and our property. Any law, any regulation that deprives us of that right is constitutionally and morally illegitimate.
Guns are used many times a year in self defense; the number may well be in the millions. Other jurisdictions, as my colleague Rusty Weiss noted recently, actually encourage citizens to provide for their defense, as the police can’t be everywhere.
See Related: ‘Expect to Be Shot’: Florida Sheriff Sides With Man Who Scared Off Illegal, Fatally Shot Intruder
For the time being, at least, AB 1333 is gone, but this won’t be the last time a California leftist politician tries something like this. Like bad pennies, bad ideas always seem to keep coming up, and proposed laws that squash the citizenry’s right to defend themselves, their families, and their property against criminals are all too often floated by these people.
Now, though, the forces of good sense have won one in California.
