One-strike proposal reveals limits of the law

Seattle P-I ^ | Aug 30, 2007 | HUBERT G. LOCKE

[3AngelaD]

OK, let's start the conversation at a point at which everyone likely will agree -- a person who kidnaps, rapes and murders a child is the lowest, most despicable form of the human species...What should we do with people who commit such horrid crimes?

A society must try, as best it can, to protect itself...It is not surprising that in response to an especially heinous case of child molestation and murder, such as that which occurred in Tacoma last month, the public outcry is immense and all sorts of draconian punishments are proposed...

Every proposed punishment or safeguard, however, presents added problems -- sufficient to convince me, at least, that there are no simple answers to this dreadful problem.

The state of Georgia, for example, has a new sex offender registry law that its politicians tout as the toughest in the nation. Offenders are required to register their addresses and are forbidden to live within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, church, swimming pool or school bus stop. Because of the law, an offender who was unable to register an address because he is homeless is facing a life term in prison. His first violation occurred when he missed an earlier deadline to register and was sentenced to two years probation. A second violation of the registry law carries an automatic life sentence.

In California, a judge issued a restraining order on a pedophile that prohibits him from coming closer than 10 yards to any minor in the entire state. The restraining order has been described as constituting basically house arrest or expulsion from California. It accomplishes, with one person, what the state of Georgia has set out to do with an entire offender class -- force sex offenders to leave the state...

[3AngelaD]

The guy in Georgia created his own problem by not signing up at a shelter so he at least had an address. I am shedding no tears for him. Who knows how many children's lives would be saved by his incarceration. The writer is a retired professor and former dean of the Daniel J. Evans Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington.

[cardinal4]

Because of the law, an offender who was unable to register an address because he is homeless is facing a life term in prison. His first violation occurred when he missed an earlier deadline to register and was sentenced to two years probation. A second violation of the registry law carries an automatic life sentence.

He should have chosen another hobby, then. Ill shed no tears, either..

[Bobibutu]

“a person who kidnaps, rapes and murders a child is the lowest, most despicable form of the human species...What should we do with people who commit such horrid crimes?”

Death.

Now what has this to do with the rest of the article?

Agreed. No tears shed for the others.

[seowulf]

If we just executed the child molesting pervert, we’d know his address: plot #4233, Lawn Hill Cemetery.

[NonValueAdded]

Because of the law, an offender who was unable to register an address because he is homeless is facing a life term in prison. His first violation occurred when he missed an earlier deadline to register and was sentenced to two years probation. A second violation of the registry law carries an automatic life sentence.

Well, that protects society AND solves his homeless problem. How cool is that!

[Lurker]

What should we do with people who commit such horrid crimes?

Execute them after the first conviction.

Then there'll be no more whining from idiot writers like this one.

L

[Spok]

If being a registered sex offender also requires the forfiture of the right to live a transient lifestyle, that’s not so shocking. In the near future, they’ll probably be given the option of being micro-chipped so their whereabouts can be monitored 24/7. If the left and its legal mouthpiece, the ACLU, continue to erect barriers to alternatives to incarceration, and they will succeed only in leaving no alternatives.

[goldstategop]

Any one who thinks a pedophile should NOT be executed immediately needs their head checked. They are an ever present danger to the safety of our children. We ought to make no excuses to protect them and do whatever is necessary to keep sexual predators out of their midst.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Drew68]

The guy in Georgia created his own problem by not signing up at a shelter so he at least had an address.

What if the shelter was within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, church, swimming pool or school bus stop?

Just saying.

[bigfootbob]

I worked very hard last election cycle to get a strong “Jessica’s Law” passed here. We got a weak law that needs a major overhaul from the get-go. The dims and prosecutor’s group fought against the bill.

The dims fought against it because they’re dims, but the prosecutor’s fought against it because they’re dims too and they thought the bill went too hard on family members who rape kids. The prosecutor’s said it would be hard to convict “Uncle Larry” because family members won’t want to see them put away for 25-life. Crazy.

We’re going to see more vigilante justice.

[jhroberts]

Kill every (insert your favorite obscenity here) one of them. Now!