NE2: Northeast Sex Offender Reform Act (Law)

[Deus Naturae]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Governor Dallasfan

Debate on this bill will be open for 72 hours, or until 4:45 PM on Thursday May 8, unless modified or extended. The sponsor has 32 hours to advocate for this proposed legislation. if he does not, this bill will be tabled as there is other pending legislation in the queue.

[SWE]

This looks like a pretty good bill. I'll support it.

[Dr. Cynic]

Fine by me. I'll vote for it.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

I advocate for this bill because it's good.

Kidding - just putting this out there so it doesn't get tabled. I'm at school but will post a more detailed reasoning when I get home.

[#CriminalizeSobriety]

I didn't get nearly the kind of opposition that I had expected for this legislation. Nonetheless, it's my duty as a public servant to make a cogent case for it.

Few people like the idea of their children associating (or being in the proximity of) convicted sex offenders. That may be a given. However, what actually constitutes a sex offender?

Let's look at this tragic case in Oklahoma:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

citation

There's an overwhelming amount of stigma that goes hand-in-hand with the label of "sex offender." While (thankfully) we've liberalized our sex laws to a degree where there may not be as many wrongly-convicted "sex-offenders", I still think that we should afford some more protection to this class of people than we currently do. Restrictions on sex-offender residencies make no sense, because is fifteen miles truly an inconquerable boundary to somebody who is "bound to offend" once more? Not to mention that such restrictions can make it much harder for convicted sex offenders to reenter the workforce.

Secondly, some are worried that it's dangerous for sex offenders to live in closer proximity to school areas because of their "high recidivism rate." However, Jacob Sullum at Reason documents that such a meme may not be accurate:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

citation

I'm open to further liberalizing our laws, but I figure that this is a good start.

[Deus Naturae]

The debate period is now over. We will move to a final vote on this bill, as written:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Voting shall last for 48 hours or until all members have voted.

[SWE]

Aye

[Dr. Cynic]

Aye

[BaconBacon96]

Aye.

[Napoleon]

Aye

[Deus Naturae]

Aye

[Deus Naturae]

The voting period is now over. By a vote of 5-0-0, this bill passes and goes on to the Governor for his signature or veto.

[Deus Naturae]

The Governor has signed this bill into law.