California Cracking Down On Sex Offenders
It’s about time.
SF Chronicle reports: “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.”
Standing by for comments by the ACLU…
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,” [Schwarzenegger] said Tuesday. “We want these criminals off the streets and away from our schools and children.”
Given the recent headlines of young children being raped and killed by repeat sex offenders (let out of jail by lenient judges), there’s no question these bills have merit.
In addition to requiring the electronic tracking devices, the bills would:
– Bar registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.
– Make possession of child pornography a felony.
– Allow sexually violent sexual offenders to be committed to a state hospital for an indefinite amount of time.
– Increase parole time to up to 10 years for some sex offenses.
“Sexual predators are the dregs of society and should never be let out,” said state Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Salinas, a co-sponsor of the Senate bill. “Please don’t let politics get in the way of protecting my kids.”
Strong language, but right on. Who could argue with this sentiment?
A liberal Democrat from San Francisco.
State Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco and a member of the Senate’s public safety committee, called the new bill “a brutal, cookie-cutter approach” to criminal justice. It’s the job of the Legislature, she said, not the voters, to deal with complex, emotional issues like this.
“Brutal?” To wear a tracking device?
Can’t decide what’s more infuriating: Migden’s twisted view of justice or her patronizing arrogance.
Speaking on behalf of California’s Democrat leadership, her message is clear: We, the voters, should just keep paying the bills, but we’re too stupid to “deal with complex” issues.
And that sums up the liberal perspective.
August 17th, 2005 at 7:15 pm
“It’s the job of the Legislature, she said, not the voters, to deal with complex, emotional issues like this.”
If the California legislature were doing its job, California wouldn’t have such a much-used proposition process. And thanks for your low opinion of the voters, Sen. Migden.
September 2nd, 2005 at 1:06 pm
[...] olitics is personal. At least we know where to point the finger. RELATED: California Cracking Down On Sex Offenders [...]
September 7th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
My thoughts…. Sex offenders deserve this… IF THEY REALLY DID IT, but there’s often not enough proof to varify these cases beyond the shadow of the doubt. Also, this could be used much like the Patriot Act, where peaceful protesters who demonstrate their constitutional right to disagree with our current administration may find themselves being labled as sex offenders… Which I suppose is better than being falsely labled as terrorists. But still, I don’t sit easy with the broad and intrusive powers our federal government is enforcing upon us through intimidation, coersion, and blackmail. We need to take a stand as our forfathers did to win our freedom… Because a piece of paper does not guarantee we will be free, we must safeguard the principals upon that piece of paper called the constitution, and we must be willing to sacrifice for this. If they have undeniable proof that the accused person is a sex offender, great, they deserve it. But you also hafta notice how many women would make up a bogus claim of rape in order to get even with a guy they simply don’t like.