Posted on 02/12/2003 7:26:37 AM PST by 1Old Pro
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=104631&category=STATE&newsdate=2/12/2003
Bill would make Internet-luring a felony
Albany-- Proposal would be added to last year's measure aimed at protecting minors
By ELIZABETH BENJAMIN, Capitol bureau
First published: Wednesday, February 12, 2003
Using the Internet to lure children for sexual encounters would be a felony punishable with up to seven years in prison under a proposal by Assembly Republicans.
The Assembly minority introduced a similar law last year that would make it a felony for anyone to "lure or entice" a minor under age 17 into a car, building or other isolated place for the purpose of committing a sexual offense.
GOP lawmakers said the addition of "computer luring" was spurred by the recent revelation that former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter was arrested in 2001 in Colonie for allegedly trying to rendezvous with a person he thought was a teenage girl he met in an online chat room but who was actually an undercover detective.
Ritter was charged with attempted endangerment of a child, a Class B misdemeanor. The case was adjourned and the record on it sealed.
"This bill gives police and prosecutors more and better tools to prevent and more appropriately punish those who try to victimize our children," said Assembly Minority Leader Charles Nesbitt, R-Brockport, who is co-sponsoring the bill with Assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Schenectady.
Under state law, a misdemeanor is the highest charge police can bring against a person accused of trying to lure a child for the purpose of a sexual encounter. But the same action can be a felony under federal law, depending on the method used. Federal prosecutors in the Albany office of the U.S. attorney are reviewing Ritter's sealed Colonie police file.
Sen. Dale Volker, R-Depew, who sponsored the Senate version of the Assembly minority's bill last year, said the new, Internet-inclusive version is "a good bill," and he will likely sponsor it. A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, said the Assembly majority will "take a look" at the proposal.
The Pedophile Traitor Law. Has a nice ring to it.
Personally, I thought this was the funniest on this thread. < chuckle >
Habitual Ritterbater
Theres already laws against Loitering, Littering and now..... Rittering.
Ritter lured/was lured by a twenty and thrity something group of cops to Burger King -- no innocent yound girl. As much as we ALL want to protect young girls, it would help to be adult and to ponder what the ramifications of such entrapments are. We all agree the criminal at a genuine crime should be grabbed and stopped.
What are the psychological dynamics of sexual bait-and-lure by an a adult play-acting a child? I do not think they can be presumed to be the same as that of a genuine child.
Perhaps better there should be a law against sexual luring of any kind in any open internet chat room, IM service, forum or by unsolicited email. Here's the thing -- how do you know that "lonely 40 year old housewife" isn't a 13 yeard old home alone after school. There's no way you can know.
I'd be more for that, than I would for some feel-good law that makes adult play-acting a felony.
Starts out tasty...ends up rotten.
Aged tender Beef, but not over 16 years.
LOL.....and to think I was going to suggest veal.
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