Thu. Nov 7th, 2024

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Voters approved a measure that GOP lawmakers sent to the ballot that requires life sentences for anyone convicted of child sex trafficking.

With nearly half of expected votes tallied, Proposition 313 is cruising to a large victory, with 61% of voters approving of the measure. 

Under current law, child sex trafficking is a class 2 or class 5 felony. Depending on the age of the victim, the nature of the offense and the person’s prior criminal history, the penalty for the class 2 felony can range from 7 years in prison to a life sentence. 

Prop. 313 would require life sentences for anyone convicted of that class 2 felony.

The group that has been pushing the measure, named Arizona’s Children Are Not for Sale, has said they were inspired by the film “Sound of Freedom,” released July 4, 2023.

The film, which has ties to QAnon, allegedly portrays the life of Tim Ballard, who ran an organization called Operation Underground Railroad which claims it has saved children from child sex trafficking in “sting” operations in various countries. Ballard has since left the organization after women who participated in its operations accused him of sexual misconduct.

During promotions for the film, Jim Caviezel, the actor who portrayed Ballard, spread QAnon conspiracy theories. Both Caviezel and Ballard have denied connections between the conspiratorial belief and the film.

Critics of the measure have said that it could lead to victims of sex trafficking, who often are used to recruit new victims by their abusers, being imprisoned for life as well.

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