Posted on 01/25/2007 8:12:39 AM PST by Graybeard58
HARTFORD -- Republicans in the state legislature are advocating tougher punishment for child molesters.
Republicans want longer minimum sentences for convictions for sexually assaulting children or using the Internet to try to entice children into having sex.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday urged majority Democrats to support the legislation. A spokesman said Gov. M. Jodi Rell also supports it.
One of the GOP bills mirrors a Florida law prompted by the rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford by a convicted sex offender two years ago. Twenty-one other states have followed Florida's example, Senate Republicans said.
"God forbid we have to have some young girl or boy tragically assaulted to pass this legislation," said Sen. John A. Kissell, R-Enfield, a ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.
The proposed version of "Jessica's Law" for Connecticut sets a minimum sentence of 25 years for adults convicted of sexually assaulting children under the age of 13.
"We believe the time is long overdue to bring this into effect to make sure our children are protected," Senate Minority Leader Louis C. DeLuca, R-Woodbury, said.
Senate Republicans said they will later propose mandatory minimum sentences for sexual assaults on victims between the ages of 13 and 15.
Current law imposes a 10-year minimum sentence if the victim is under age 10 and a five-year sentence if the victim is between ages 10 and 16.
Senate Republicans cited complaints from law enforcement that sentences in Connecticut are too light and inconsistent. They had no research to verify the complaints .
The Senate unanimously voted in the final hours of the 2006 session to impose a 25-year minimum sentence for anyone over 18 convicted of first- or second-degree sexual assault on a victim under age 13. The House didn't vote on the Senate bill.
Senate Republicans said House Democrats opposed to mandatory sentences thwarted last year's legislation.
A spokesman for House Speaker James A. Amann, D-Milford, said the Democratic leader is willing to consider the concept. However, Amann has reservations about mandatory minimum sentences.
Another Republican bill proposes a minimum 25-year sentence for using the Internet to try to entice children 12 and under into having sex. It would impose a 10-year sentence if victims are between the ages of 13 and 15. In both cases, a second offense would carry a life sentence.
"Parents cannot turn on their TV or radio or pick up a newspaper without hearing or reading yet another story about some sexual predator using the Internet to go after their children," said Sen. John McKinney, R-Fairfield, the deputy minority leader.
House Republicans are backing their Senate colleagues. Deputy House Minority Leader William A. Hamzy, R-Plymouth made a show of support at Wednesday's news conference.
House Republicans are proposing to prohibit convicted sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school or child-care center.
One of the many reasons I have never voted for a democrat in my life and never will.
Ping
Dems fighting it? I thought they were for the children.
"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
Trial lawyers and defense attorney contributions.
Libs -- the criminal's best friends. Understatement.
Democrats believe that they should be the ones to introduce laws as they are in charge. So they vote against anything that makes sense because they didn't introduce it.
Sure-so an 18 year old who has a 15 year old girlfriend. lock him up and throw away the key.
Trial lawyers and defense attorney contributions.
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Yes, the Trial Lawyer's Assoc that gave Billy and Al $160K to kill TORT REFORM.
Scummy bastards.
Just be careful when you hug your daughters and grandaughters!!!
Personally I vote for castration. Especially for those men who have incestuous relations.
So often child molesters are convicted and sentenced while parents who have molested their own children are given a pass. Sometimes even given joint custody so they can molest again. They are all monsters ,but a parent whop molests their own child is too sick to live IMO.
OK............I can understand the Democrats. Sentence all these guys to live in Vermont if they feel so sorry for them.
You are being kind. I'd castrate them at the neck.
They are just trying to protect their base. Now if you let the molesters vote from within prison, the Dems just might get on board.
"Sure-so an 18 year old who has a 15 year old girlfriend. lock him up and throw away the key."
Yeah, let's put the lives of children at risk so some 18 yo loser can bang his underage girlfriend. /s
They are probably holding out for an exception for the mental health of the pedophile.
Between the ages of 15 and 18 there is a tremendous difference in emotional maturity. Anyone who lets his 15 y/o daughter date an 18 y/o boy is begging for trouble.
This is one of the few things that I think should be federalized. Child molesters commit their crimes in one state, get a slap on the wrist, and then move to another state to commit more crimes. Congress should make child molestation a federal crime, with a high sentence.
Another advantage of doing that is that it would absolutely drive the libs nuts that the conservatives were using their own invention--federal preemption--to increase criminal penalties on what were previously state crimes. It might even prompt the Dems to make an about face and embrace federalism. For example, I can envision the Vermont lawmakers complaining that the US government was interfering with their internal affairs. It would be delightful to be able to respond the way they have for the last 70 years every time the feds took over what was previously a state function: "Tough."
Perhaps some of the sitting legislators don't like the prospect of going to jail for that long.
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