Runner bill to protect soldiers is law

Antelope Valley Press ^ | August 9, 2003 | No by-line

[BenLurkin]

SACRAMENTO - A bill to protect soldiers from hate-initiated violence was signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis on Aug. 1.

Assembly Bill 187 by Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, creates penalty enhancements for committing assault or battery against a soldier because of his or her military service.

"Our troops deserve nothing less than our support," said Runner of her first bill signed into law since she was elected to represent the 36th Assembly District in November. "This new law defends those who have fought to protect our freedom."

AB 187 increases penalties on individuals who commit assault and battery on our military service personnel. Anyone who initiates a hate attack against a service member would be subject to double the usual fine and jail time that can be currently sentenced.

Recent incidents, such as the stabbing of four Marines in San Juan Capistrano by gang members, illustrates that hate violence toward soldiers is still a problem. The gang members left the scene of an argument with the Marines and returned with knives. The attack left one Marine in critical condition and another hospitalized.

Runner introduced AB 187 after reading about acts of hatred committed against members of the armed services in Vermont and Texas and within the high desert.

"Our soldiers shouldn't be subjected to abuse," Runner said.

[BenLurkin]

This legislation got mixed reviews on FR when it was proposed. Now it is law here on the left coast.

[Mears]

I think the fact that we would even have to protect our soldiers from an attack astonishes me.

What in the name of God has this country become?

[LibKill]

While this bill is benevolant and in good-spirit, it is redundant (unnecessary).

Real soldiers can take care of themselves and woe betide the little pissant who takes them on.

[MACVSOG68]

Like all other "hate Crime" laws, it is absurd. If current assault laws are insufficient, then make them tougher. To think that a hate crime law would have prevented the assault mentioned in the article any more than current laws on the books is nothing but pc nonsense.

You can legislate against actions, not mental dispositions.

[mamelukesabre]

STUPID

By the time they finish making "special" laws and "special" penalties for every "special" group out there, they could have just made one blanket law and penalty covering everyone equally as if we are all CREATED EQUAL.

Gee where have I heard that Idea before?

[BenLurkin]

Many FReepers took this position as teh law was proposed.

BTW, great screen name:

[rockfish59]

More bizarro worldness from Calif.

[ChewedGum]

I hate legislation like this though. Shouldn't this already be wrong within the framework of laws which already exist? We need legislatures to make sound and reasonable laws from which the courts can easily interpret their intent. We don't need legislatures to generate thousands of laws per year, because the sheer noise from all that legislation virtually guarantees that most will not be enforced.

Gum

[rockfish59]

Sheer noise!
You answered your own question.

And Runner is a 'Republican?'

[William Tell]

LibKill said: "Real soldiers can take care of themselves and woe betide the little pissant who takes them on."

No. Real soldiers in Kalifornia are disarmed when off duty just like most of us. They are forced to deal with predators while at great disadvantage and face prison time if they attempt to circumvent the unConstitutional anti-gun laws of Kalifornia. Even the military itself is complicit in disarming them.

[LibKill]

Good point.

I guess I never survived all those dockside bars unarmed. In fact, I have been dead for more than 20 years and have no business posting here. :)

Just kidding. I'm on the soldiers side.

[LibKill]

Are you claiming that Kueck wore "jackboots"?

Of course not. I just have a problem with people who think that fire is better than a trial by one's peers.

Think real hard about it.

[LibKill]

LibKill, You Idiot! Wrong thread.

[AAABEST]

Speaking as a vet, this is a dumb law. It says very clearly in the constitution that there is equal justice under the law.

No special groups whether you're a minority, a cop, a geezer, a soldier, a fag or whatever. Nobody is special, which is how it should be.

WTF is so damned hard to understand about equal justice under the law. It's written in plain freaking English yet we prend it doesn't exist. Why the hell can't we follow simple law written in plain English.

[SJSAMPLE]

Another stupid law.

I was a soldier for 15 years, and I didn't need another law to protect me. I was covered under the same laws as the rest of my fellow CITIZENS.

Nothing more than another (typicalo) liberal bone-tossing. Suckers fell for it.