It’s rare to find a progressive trend in our Republican-dominated legislature, but their recent effort (House Bill 301) to downsize Missouri’s “sex offender registry” is laudable, even as Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto is perplexing.
Registering “sex offenders” (far too broadly defined) is based on the questionable idea that they are more likely to offend once released — even though a U.S. Department of Justice study of criminal recidivism rates showed many convicted of sex-related offenses had lower rates of re-arrest compared to other criminals.
We don’t require armed robbers or other felons to register on a public list; rather they serve their sentences and (hopefully) re-integrate into society. And that is the main problem with registering “sex offenders.” Branding all of them for life can only make it more difficult to become normal members of society upon release. Full Article
I have to admit that while the mid-west used to only known as the “Bible belt” of the country that it also seems that common sense is to be found there as well. Seems more of it there than in the pseudo intellectual open-mindedness that we find here in California.
You go Missouri – You are the “Show Me” State so show us!
Maybe it’s time for my wife and I to consider moving to Missouri…
Here’s something very encouraging: Every comment under the article is from a woman and is positive! The truth is out there, and people are learning!
Don’t forget. Oklahoma ….they too are a changing and reforming registry for living and working …sentence served
and done with works for all………………….california goes against Constitution protections.
Articles like this one are the result of all of the hard work that folks like Janice with CARSOL and others from other groups like WAR and USAFAIR are continuing to do. We are making noise. And now, we are being noticed. We may lose battles, but, we WILL win this war. We ALL need to keep on keeping on. If we do, more and more op-eds like this one will appear. Then, one day the sheeple will begin follow us.