Los Angeles, Aug 14 (IANS): Actresses Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner appeared before the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety to help push through a new bill to impose heavier penalties on paparazzi who follow celebrities and their children.

In the meeting Tuesday, Berry recalled a scary paparazzi encounter when she was with her young daughter Nahla, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"The photographer said, 'How do you feel, Nahla? You may not see your father again. How do you feel about that'?

"They say curse words and call me names, all trying to provoke some sort of response to sell a photograph," Berry added.

Following the incident, her daughter asked: "Why did they say that to me, mommy? What does that mean? Who are these men and why are they following us?"

Even Garner spoke about her paparazzi experience.

"Being stalked has been hard for me, but it is beyond what a child should have to endure. I am an actress, but I am a mom first. My children aren't actors or celebrities. They're just kids like your kids or anyone else's and, just like you want to protect your children, I want to protect mine.

"They're beautiful and sweet and innocent, and I don't want a gang of shouting, arguing, lawbreaking photographers who camp out everywhere we are all day every day to continue traumatizing my kids," said Garner.