Woman slain at Route 24 rest stop - Murderer one of 17,000 unregistered Massachusetts Sex offenders

Boston Globe ^ | July 19, 2002 | Francie Latour and Emily Ramshaw

[loveliberty]

Unfortunately, it's cheaper to keep them in prison the rest of their lives.

Not if the defense lawyers and liberal judges will stop enriching themselves by stringing out the appeals process.

[Don Myers]

I have said this before, but it is worth repeating. Our justice system is broken, and it does not protect citizens. All the lawyers and all the judges fell over backwards, and can never be the same ever again.

[angcat]

when my family traveled to cape cod we only used rest stops that were crowded and into a better part of state such as CT we waited for the mystic area. anyway i would never use a rest stop alone or with my daughter just with my husband and he comes with us, i'm glad my mother raised me a neurotic nut i will do the same to my daughter.

[reg45]

Giga Dittos!

[loveliberty]

BTTT!

Let's not let this one continue to be ignored by the media. Liberal defense lawyers and judges who work hard to turn these people loose on the women and children of our society must be spotlighted and held accountable!

[vannrox]

The fact is:

This wouldn't of happened if the "Three-Strikes you're out law" was passed by the Massachusetts COngress. But the DEMOCRATS blocked and killed this bill. Chalk up another death to Democrats.

[kdmhcdcfld]

Not only more guns, but how about holding the parole board that set Leahy free accountable!

[two23]

Good for you and your "neurosis"!!! I agree....
I am always pointing out personal security tips to my daughter, but with the number one rule: Avoid risks when possible!
All of my adult kids have guns and are at the range almost every weekend.
IF, when travelling with my family we ever HAD to use a rest stop, one of us would stay behind and "cover" for the others. Unreal, huh?

[JohnGalt]

Leave it to the Globe to blame lack of laws not lack of enforcement. (This country is so finished.)

[Semper Paratus]

The Massachusetts Legislature gave the Governor a 21.9 billion budget yesterday that cut 1.1 million out of the state sex offender registry.

They also voted the biggest tax increase in state history.

[FITZ]

It probably wouldn't hurt to have a cell phone ----even a non-working one. If harassed like that, at least pretend to dial a number, act like you're describing him and his car, license plate. I bet he'd take off fast.

[Endeavor]

"As a convicted rapist, Leahy would be a candidate for the state's sex offender registry. But because of legal challenges, the registry board was blocked from processing cases until last year."

What pigs brought these legal challenges? Who are they? What are their names? They have the death of this young woman on their hands.

I am a sailor. I am a young woman. I feel it is time for us to start rightfully holding those who let this animal back on the streets, accountable. Sexual predators do NOT change. They should be put to death or kept in prison FOREVER. FOREVER. FOREVER.

[Endeavor]

You know, I listened to the press conference last night with the police in Stanton, CA and the sheriff talked about all the people they brought in as possible suspects and who they ruled out due to this fact or that.

I wonder if the diligence of these law enforcement officials will carry through regarding those who were brought in as suspects but were not the perpetrators of this particular crime? If they were worthy of being brought in as possible suspects in the Runnion murder, why are they not behind bars or under direct supervision if they're out?

I don't believe sexual predators change. And on the odd chance that some do, regardless, their crime(s) are so heinous that they deserve life behind bars and in some cases, death.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Just another example of why we MUST let women carry concealed weapons. I am sure that if this feisty woman had a gun, we would have a dead knife-wielding pervert thug rather than another dead innocent victim. Damn it! This makes me furious! I hear this and I say let's pass laws REQUIRING women to carry guns!

[Mini-14]

As a convicted rapist, Leahy would be a candidate for the state's sex offender registry. But because of legal challenges, the registry board was blocked from processing cases until last year. As a result, only 1,000 of 18,000 offenders have been registered. What benefit does "registration" achieve?

[Mini-14]

You are assuming that the victims are the politicians who vote to disarm victims. This MAY be true, but then again, it may NOT be true.

[Spirited]

Sure, carry it and they will put you away for life before they will register this type of "dog".

[FITZ]

Conservatives need to become much more vocal and make sure people understand it's liberals who make sure these rapists are running loose and it's liberals who keep them out of prison and prevent people like this woman from properly defending her life.

[Kermit]

"Zapp opened the door to her attacker, and what police say happened next surprised no one who knew the fiery athlete: She began to struggle.

Zapp weighed less than 100 pounds, but she was strong. Prosecutors said she fought savagely against Paul J. Leahy, biting and head-butting her way out of his grip. Then, already bloody and still cornered by the stalls, she tried to reason with her killer."

It is the rare woman, who can overpower or outfight a man. That's why women need a handgun, which is not called the Equalizer for nothing. The Commonwealth of Massachuetts made it a crime for this woman to reasonably defend herself. The survivors and estate of Zapp ought to sue Massachuetts and every politician, who voted for that law. They cost Zapp her life and they are guilty too!

[jonascord]

I'm puzzled. Why should I have to get permission from the State to defend myself? Where I live, If I use a flamethrower to stop a burgler on my property, I MIGHT get a fine if I scorch the neighbor's lawn...