California: Poll: Voters favor softening of '3 strikes' law

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 13 October 2004 | Howard Mintz

[CounterCounterCulture]

Richard Temple, a consultant for the anti-66 campaign, said the Field Poll numbers can still be turned around before the election. (Governor Arnold) Schwarzenegger is expected to make a pitch against Proposition 66 in the coming weeks.

[Porterville]

The law is insane.

[Wayne07]

how so?

[BurbankErnie]

Like HELL WE DO!

More liberal bias from the Soviet State of Kalifornia

[skaterboy]

If someone has two strikes and is still out commiting crimes even if it is petty theft or pot carrying then I have no tears for em cause they are rather stupid

Well,let's see two strikes,one more and I go away for long time....I think i'll steal a snickers

[Porterville]

If an ex felon defends themselves they can go to jail for life. Ex felons typically live in violent neighborhoods. Felonys can be quite small these day; drunk drivers are felons.

The law is wrong.

[Porterville]

Do you realize that you are seen as potential inventory for the state of California?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Well,let's see two strikes,one more and I go away for long time....I think i'll steal a snickers

And if there are no witnesses, I won't get caught.

[CounterCounterCulture]

From the voter pamphlet:

Selected felonies no longer considered violent or serious offenses under Proposition 66

• Attempted burglary
• Conspiracry (multiple people planning) to commit assault
• Nonresidential arson resulting in no significant injuries
• Threats to commit criminal acts that would result in significant personal injury
• Burglary of an unoccupied residence
• Interfering with a trial witness without the use of force or threats and not in the furtherance of a conspiracy
• Participation in felonies committed by a criminal street gang
• Unintentional infliction of significant personal injury while committing a felony offense.

[Taft in '52]

More liberal bias from the Soviet State of Kalifornia

It's amazing that California shifted so quickly to the left. This is the state that put Goldwater over the top in 1964, launched Ronald Reagan on the road to the presidency, and elected a conservative Republican governor (George Deukmejian) as late as 1986.

[paul51]

Felonys can be quite small these day; drunk drivers are felons.

I don't know of any 'small' felonies. Felony drunk runk driving after two violent felonies......send em away

[Wayne07]

If an ex-con defends themself they can go to jail for life? What does that even mean? I'd tranlate to: If an ex-con who has already committed two violent felonies and commits a third crime like buglary, and for some reason turns down free state representation tio represent themselves, has a chance of being convicted, and if convicted wil get life for a third strike. thank god for that.

[Mount Athos]

Thank you for posting the list of felonies not considered violent or serious. I would have considered voting for this if I hadn't seen what you posted.

[Poohbah]

If an ex felon defends themselves they can go to jail for life. Ex felons typically live in violent neighborhoods. Felonys can be quite small these day; drunk drivers are felons.

Two violent felonies are required to be eligible for the three-strikes law.

As for violent felons having to defend themselves because they live in violent neighborhoods: those neighborhoods are violent because of (drum roll, please):

The violent felons!

[Porterville]

Like I said, you are potential inventory, and you want to push people in line.

[Wayne07]

for the record, shoplifting a snickers wouldn't qualify as a thrid strike. grabbing one out of a kid's hand could, and should.

[CounterCounterCulture]

From the voter pamphlet:

Resentencing of offenders. This measure requires the state to resentence offenders currently serving an indeterminate life sentence under the Three Strikes law if their third strike resulted from a conviction for a nonviolent and nonserious felony offense, as defined by this proposition. Resentencing must occur no later than 180 days after this measure takes effect. The resentencing requirement will result in reduced prison sentences for some inmates and release from prison for others.

[Porterville]

You would take away the right of a man to defend themselves? How many people does CA stock behind prison walls in order to support backwater towns without any industry? Think about it. The legal system in CA is a living beast that needs more fuel. Is it any wonder that the strongest lobbyist group in CA is the Prison Guard Union?...

[Wayne07]

Please stop misinforming people. Drunk driving is NOT a felony in California.

23152(a) It is a misdemeanor to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

23152(b) It is a misdemeanor to drive with .08% or more of alcohol in your blood.

The only time drunk driving can be felony is if you cause injury while drunk driving.

If you think three strikes is so bad, please give us some examples of the most egregious abuse of the law. opponents never do because every time you look at the people's record, you see they really deserved it.