Here's something that will give sports spectators something to really cheer about.
A SoCal lawmaker is essentially asking for a statewide restraining order on violent sports fans, barring them from events so that the rest of us can watch our teams play without worrying about getting killed.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) is drafting legislation that would create a "Ban List" of unwanted fans, similar to a "no Fly List" for terrorists. Those fans who end up on the list would have their names and photos published in the Internet, which would also be circulated to all sports venues, police departments, and event ticketing office throughout the state.
The California's Attorney General's Office will maintain the list of
miscreants, and those caught attending a sporting event could be
sentenced to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine. "Everybody who is at these ballparks are sports fans," Gatto told the
Sacramento Bee. "So to take away what they love, to say, 'You can't
attend a game anymore,' that's a real penalty to them."
Gatto says he was inspired to treat sporting hooligans like the hooligans they are after the tragic beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow.Under Assembly Bill 2464, a judge could place violent offenders could be placed on the ban list for up to five years on their first conviction, and 10 years for a second conviction. It would only target those fans who have been convicted of serious offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury.
"Violence is something that has made a lot of parents be a little afraid to take their kids to the ball games, so I think we need to step in and do something," Gatto added.
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