Posted on 08/17/2005 11:10:11 AM PDT by SmithL
Sacramento -- Tens of thousands of California sex offenders would be forced to wear electronic tracking devices for the rest of their lives under two new bills backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bills, which also would boost punishment for a wide range of sex offenses, "will give California the strictest laws and the toughest penalties for the worst crimes,'' he said Tuesday. "We want these criminals off the streets and away from our schools and children.''
The governor's Capitol news conference turned up the heat on the Democratic-led Legislature, where many of the measures contained in the bills have died in party-line committee votes.
Schwarzenegger appeared at the news conference surrounded by Republican legislators and district attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs from around the state, all supporting tougher sanctions on sex offenders.
The governor plans a full-court press to garner support for the bill. On Thursday, for example, former Gov. Pete Wilson and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will pump up the measure in a Southern California appearance.
But Schwarzenegger also warned he was ready to go directly to the people with an initiative if Democrats didn't cooperate by quickly passing the bills.
Californians are demanding more protection from sexual predators, he said, and there's no reason to delay.
Democrats were enraged at Schwarzenegger's suggestion that they were less interested in public safety
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
What do you think?
What kind of tracking device?
Having sex offenders where ankle bracelets is a complete waste of time and money. I prefer to see them dead, behind bars, or reformed. Anything short of that is failure no matter how you look at it.
How about a 100-pound ball and chain that emits a loud shriek every few minutes? Or a metal collar that twinkles brightly and plays "I fought the law" continuously?
I really don't think an eighteen-year-old who's caught boinking his girlfriend of three years should wear a GPS bracelet, do you?
How about confining these things to violent offenders and pedophiles, instead of cheering a rotten precedent?
Man, there will be a whole new industry, producing fashionable colors and accessories for ankle-bands in San Fran. alone.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Keep em in jail instead.
There is something about citizens running around with permanent tracking devices that is to much like some real bad sci fi and makes me want to break out the ol tinfoil.
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