Bill O points

Grizlaw · Post by **Grizlaw** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:11 pm

Becca -- I am not a parent either, but I just don't buy the "unless you're a parent, you can't possibly understand how bad sex crimes are" line of thinking. Frankly -- and I hope you don't take this personally, but -- I think that line of thought is incredibly condescending.

Many of us who do not have children have, nonetheless, seen first-hand how a person's life can be affected by being a victim. I'm not going to publicly share the details of my story, but my blood boils when I think of the effect an event that happened almost fifteen years ago has had on the life of someone that I care about very deeply. So yes, I think you could say that I do understand. Nevertheless, though, the fact that my individual situation makes me angry has not caused me to just put blinders on and ignore possible collateral effects of any law that has the effect of cracking down on sex offenders.

It's fine that you agree with Arnold's law, but please don't sit there and tell the rest of us that we just don't get it because we don't have children. We all have our reasons for our beliefs, and you know nothing about most of us.

--GL

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:13 pm

And that's the intent of both bills (keeping them away from kids to the extent possible ... not the Alcatraz part). It's just that one bill has flaws in it, but is marketed as being "tough" while the competing, and better structured, bill is being bashed as being pro-criminal. We just need to be aware of the fear-mongering and look past the hysterics and make ourselves aware of what particular bills say, and think through what unintended consequences could result, and then decide what the best answer truly is from a rational perspective.

briannell · Post by **briannell** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 3:04 pm

i think both laws and both parties have flaws in how to resolve this issue. i think egos need to be checked at the door, and the kids should come first.

I think many forget that once the headline goes away, people still have to deal with the effects the offender had on their lives. These laws need to incorporate statutes that will help these families. I can only judge from my personal experience, and I don't poo poo anyone elses opinion. i like this BN forum because you get to have so many different opinions displayed. i do however think that a parent does weigh these issues differently, as well as women more than men. Women are simply more emotional, it's how we are designed. Men are more logical, so viewpoints vary. It's good to see both. I also don't take offense if anyone disagrees with the views I have. i am open to different views.

I simply know from what I personally experienced in my life - laws are WAY too soft. States and courts don't have the ability to really control these sickos. that preying on children is pure evil and can not be rehabilitated in or out of prison. The evil doers just become smarter and find ways around the laws. The victims are victims for life - and your world as a parent completely changes when targeted.

just my two cents.

Post by **SonomaCat** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 3:07 pm

briannell wrote:i think both laws and both parties have flaws in how to resolve this issue. i think egos need to be checked at the door, and the kids should come first.

I think many forget that once the headline goes away, people still have to deal with the effects the offender had on their lives. These laws need to incorporate statutes that will help these families. I can only judge from my personal experience, and I don't poo poo anyone elses opinion. i like this BN forum because you get to have so many different opinions displayed. i do however think that a parent does weigh these issues differently, as well as women more than men. Women are simply more emotional, it's how we are designed. Men are more logical, so viewpoints vary. It's good to see both. I also don't take offense if anyone disagrees with the views I have. i am open to different views.

I simply know from what I personally experienced in my life - laws are WAY too soft. States and courts don't have the ability to really control these sickos. that preying on children is pure evil and can not be rehabilitated in or out of prison. The evil doers just become smarter and find ways around the laws. The victims are victims for life - and your world as a parent completely changes when targeted.

just my two cents.

What are the flaws in the Leno bill?

Although I do agree wholeheartedly with the gist of your post. If people would spend more time worrying about how to solve the problems and less time trying to paint the other side as evil, we'd all be a lot better off. But then we'd have a lot fewer cable news channels as well.