Repeat rapists and certain sex offenders can now be given a “two strikes and you’re out” ticket to life in prison under a bill recently passed by the Oregon Legislature.
Senate Bill 1050 imposes presumptive sentences for those convicted of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy or first-degree unlawful sexual penetration if the defendant has been previously convicted of those crimes or an equivalent federal offense. Full Article
So, one of the most liberal states in the country passed this. To my fellow RCs, we need to wise up! I’ve seen so many here be quick to talk about Republicans/conservatives as if they were the problem. This should tell you that both sides of the aisle are against us if they think they can use us for their own benefit.
Trump would throw any one of us under the bus for his benefit. As for Republican states, they tend to have the most harsh SO laws: AL, FL, NV, SC, TX for example. I mean just look at the politicians who spoke out against SB 421, mostly Republicans in a blue state. Democrats are neither our friends. But Democrats tend to be the lesser of two evil. Just look at Smith v. Doe as example. Ginsburg, Breyer, and Stevens were the only three that wrote dissent. Ginsburg, Breyer, and Stevens also happen to be ‘liberal.’
I actually don’t have a problem with this type of law. For certain types of repeat rapists, etc., why wouldn’t you want harsh sentences?
I’m all for getting rid of the registry, all ex-pose-facto laws, etc. It’s obviously unconstitutional. But, I think sometimes on this board we play the victim too much. Someone who repeatably rapes a child should not be roaming the streets. He (or she) has proven they cannot function in society. They need to be put away. That has nothing to do with being on a registry. There are bad people who do bad things, and they need to be punished.
That’s been my line of thinking all along. If a person did something vile enough, don’t put them on a registry that does nothing to actually protect anyone. Lock them up.