8
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by kabe@lemmy.world to c/debunkthis@lemmy.world

News pundit claims that a proposed new law would make it 1) "illegal for store employees to confront shoplifters", and that 2) "it is legal to shoplift" in California.

What can we make of these claims?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] SphereofWreckening@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

News pundit claims that a proposed new law would make it 1) "illegal for store employees to confront shoplifters", and that 2) "it is legal to shoplift" in California.

What can we make of these claims?

Let's start with claim one. This claim is specifically referencing Senate Bill 553 in California. The bill has so far cleared the Senate and is currently working it's way through committees within the house.

I have not done a thorough reading of the bill, but there is only two parts I see that reference shoplifting, and only one in relation to confronting shoplifters. That reads:

6401.9 (b) (12) Provisions prohibiting the employer from maintaining policies that require employees to confront active shooters or suspected shoplifters.

It would prevent companies from having policies that would try and stop shoplifters/active shooters. Anecdotally, I work in retail and it's my store's policy to let all shoplifters be. I don't live in California but a southern state. So even with the politics of the area it isn't encouraged to confront shoplifters.

And in my (unasked for) opinion realistically it's just not worth it; even if they end up stealing hundred or thousands of dollars in merchandise it's not worth my life to fight over it. Especially at the wage I make.

For part two, it's entirely hyperbole to completely factitious. Shoplifting in California is illegal and always has been to my knowledge. In order for it to qualify as felony shoplifting it has to be over $950 as of 2014. But it is still a misdemeanor if it's any amount up to $950. Here is the specific text for those interested.

[-] kabe@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Good job finding the bill in question, and thanks for the sources!

You're right - this is the key part that is being misrepresented, I think:

Provisions prohibiting the employer from maintaining policies that require employees to confront active shooters or suspected shoplifters

So the law is actually intended to prevent employers from requiring employees to confront shoplifters or active shooters, which makes much more sense. That's not the same thing as making the act of stopping the shoplifters illegal, per se.

this post was submitted on 17 Jun 2023
8 points (100.0% liked)

DebunkThis

1071 readers
1 users here now

Debunking pseudoscience, myths, and spurious hogwash since 2010.

We are an evidence-based Reddit/Lemmy community dedicated to taking an objective look at questionable theories, dodgy news sources, bold-faced claims, and suspicious studies.

Community Rules:

Posting

Title formatting on all posts should be "Debunk This: [main claim]"

Example: "Debunk This: Chemicals in the water are turning the frogs gay."

All posts must include at least one source and one to three specific claims to be debunked, so commenters know exactly what to investigate.

Example: "According to this YouTube video, dihydrogen monoxide turns amphibians homosexual. Is this true? Also, did Albert Einstein really claim this?"

NSFW/NSFL content is not allowed.

Commenting

Always try to back up your comments with linked sources. Just saying "this is untrue" isn't all that helpful without facts to support it.

Standard community rules apply regarding spam, self-promotion, personal attacks and hate speech, etc.

Links

Suggested Fediverse Communities

RFK Jr. Watch @lemm.ee - Discuss misinformation being spread by antivaxxer politician, Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Skeptic @lemmy.world - Discuss pseudoscience, quackery, and bald-faced BS
Skeptic @kbin.social - The above, just on Kbin
Science Communication @mander.xyz - Discuss science literacy and media reporting

Useful Resources

Common examples of misleading graphs - How to spot dodgy infographics
Metabunk.org - a message board dedicated to debunking popular conspiracies
Media Bias / Fact Check - Great resource for current news fact checking + checking a source's political bias
Science Based Medicine - A scientific look at current issues and controversies
Deplatform Disease - A medical blog that specifically counters anti-COVID-vaccine claims
Respectful Insolence - David Gorsky's blog on antivax shenanigans, politics, and pseudoscience

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS