LANSING (WKZO-AM) — Legislation restoring a one thousand-foot zone around public schools where registered sex offenders cannot work or live has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Committee chairperson Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, authored the bill in response to a federal judicial ruling that tossed out the law as unconstitutionally vague. “If sex offenders are hanging around schools, lets put them away,” Jones said. Full Article
Boy they sure do love their soundbites.
They also love their posturing and pomp and circumstance. Going after the rights of registrants is such a slam-dunk for these politicos. Facts? Who cares. Honesty? Come on! The TRUTH? How utterly inconvenient. I would love to see the expression on that smug old face the moment he finds out his grandson has been nabbed in a police sting operation for, oh, let me see…”setting up a meeting with a ‘minor’ ” but not actually GOING to it. “What??? That can’t be a sex crime!!! we must correct this injustice!” All that rhetoric sounds so nice and tough until the tables are turned. I wonder what would happen if a few selected legislators were invited to hear some of the stories at an RSOL meeting.
This bill is dying in the house. While it passed the senate and was revised slightly by the House Judiciary committee and recommended to pass, the speaker is letting it die on the vine. Unfortunately for some offenders like myself, we needed it to pass. It clearly permitted me to attend my children’s school events including sports. As it currently stands, it is ambiguous and really up to the prosecutor if they will allow it.