Sex Offenders Might Have Special License Plates

[The Straight Story]

Sex Offenders Might Have Special License Plates
Feb 28 2007 6:26PM

Reported by Eve Mueller

Convicted sex offenders in Ohio may be soon be forced to drive cars with a special license plate denoting their offense.

The proposed bill is called Kristen's Law, named for a 14-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped and killed by a sex offender. Kristen Jackson was picked up by convicted sex offender Joel Yockey as she walked to the Wayne County Fair in the fall of 2002.

....

Under the proposal, the worst sex offenders - habitual sex offenders, predators, and child-victim predators - would have to display the plate on their vehicle for five years.

"It's too late for us, but we're concerned about your 5-year-old, it's not too late for her," said Kristen's father, Mark Jackson. "This is a small tool these animals can be identified with."

Offenders would face a criminal charge if they are caught without the plate, and enablers who loan vehicles to known offenders would face criminal charges, too.

If an offender moves out of state, they would get a green sticker.

http://www.10tv.com/?sec=home&story=sites/10tv/content/pool/200702/384843790.html

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

1. Good.

[bananarepublican]

44. Would O'Reilly qualify? n/t

[Eric J in MN]

2. How are they supposed to get jobs with those plates?

Are the taxpayers going to support them when they've finished their sentences, but can't get jobs with those plates?

[DRoseDARs]

5. Not to mention drive safely. People we see these plates and purposely try to make them crash. n/t

[TX-RAT]

60. How are they supposed to get jobs with those plates?

Maybe they should have thought about that before they committed the crime. I personally don't give a Rats Ass, what happens to them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are the taxpayers going to support them when they've finished their sentences, but can't get jobs with those plates?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Most likely, seems like we always do.

[treestar]

131. They did the time, that should be enough

I hate all this extra punishment crap piled on. And then to get arrested again for not having the plate is stupid. It gives law enforcement too much work to do to be enforcing these follow up penalties.

[TX-RAT]

145. I was in law enforcement 22 years.

I would rather be hunting and monitoring these pieces of shit than having to arrest nonviolent drug offenders or write tickets for bullshit traffic violations. I'll give them no sympathy.

[merh]

3. IMHO, that is a horrible idea.

The tags would be the vigilantees "wet dream" - but gawd, the potential for abuses and safety to the public out weighs any good the tags could bring.

(Imagine some vigilantee trying to run someone off the road and causing accidents which kill innocents. What if the offender's family needs to use the car?)

[LisaL]

8. I agree. What about vigilantes? It could be dangerous

for innocent people driving on those roads, if someone sees that license plate and decides to take justice into their own hands. High speed chases, etc, and innocent people could get hurt.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. That's a possible scenario

Not to mention the vandalism to the vehicle that would take place in parking lots. Which in turn would lead to insurers raising rates for those who have such plates.

:hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. How about a big scarlet S.O.?

Or how about a wooden contraption, in which their necks and wrists are bound in public?

[JackBeck]

14. LOL.

On a roll as usual.

[JackBeck]

32. Be careful.

You'll be labeled "pro-molestation" like yours truly.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

136. Eh. Who cares?

Fuck em.

[JackBeck]

140. That's right.

Fuck them and their ignore buttons!

[zanne]

48. They might as well.

This is going too far. Period.

[jannyk]

6. Why not just castrate them and

give them an ordinary license plate?

[cali]

45. I hope you realize that

some very iffy cases are labeled sex offender, such as the 18 year old who has consensual sex with his 15 year old girlfriend.

[nonconformist]

49. The article says that this would only be for the worst offenders - habitual and child predators. nt

[MADem]

7. Well, I despise sex offenders, but that is complete bullshit. A hideous "blame everyone" solution.

What does Mrs. Sex Offender drive, if they aren't a two car family, or if Mrs. SO's car breaks down? Or little Billy Sex Offender Junior, while he takes his driving test or borrows the family car to go out on a date? That'll go over real well, to see one of those cars parked outside the gym at the Spring Formal!!!!!!

What level of offender are we talking about? The eighteen year old who gets bagged fiddling around with that very mature looking fifteen year old, or Grampa messing with the six year old?

And what if a person UNKNOWINGLY loans their car to someone? We know how lawyers can paint pictures that aren't always true.

If there's an insistence, and it IS a subject for valid discussion, of "tracking" sex offenders for the rest of their lives after they've done their time, why not just implant GPS chips in the bastards? Or make them wear a permanent ankle braclet? Or provide them with an implanted transmitter, and you could give little kids a receiver that beeps any time a pervert draws near??? Make that a condition of their release, perhaps???

These license plates aren't going to help the perverts who drag kids into the woods off of jogging paths, are they? And frankly, if someone's bound and determined to do a crime, I'd wager they'd STEAL a set of 'clean' license plates and swap them out in preparation for the awful deed.

All this does is give people a reason to point and jeer, without knowing the quality or circumstances of the individual's crime.

[Horse with no Name]

40. Alright.

You made me laugh. One of those genuine belly laughs. I needed it. Thanks.:rofl:

[northzax]

105. do they really think that

a kid who would otherwise get into a stranger's car, will check out the license plates and say "whoa, nelly. I was totally going to go with this stranger, but now that I see he is bad, I am not getting in!" come on.

[Kelly Rupert]

9. Plates are a stupid idea. Castrate them.

They've done their time; a mark of shame won't realistically help much of anything. Castrate them and let them go free.

[manic expression]

27. They'll find substitutes

castration solves nothing. Instead of using that, they'll use a broomstick or something else.

[AngryAmish]

65. You are thinking of emasculation, not castration

Castration only involves the testes (the beans, not the frank).

[Autumn Colors]

31. & how does one castrate a female sex offender? (n/t)

[Jamastiene]

33. Female castration does exist, for the record.

Oprah had a big show on about it. Most people didn't understand it and still don't. They seem to want to equate it with female circumcision which isn't the same thing. Female castration does exist and is possible. It's forced on many women in countries in Africa.

[MilesColtrane]

111. Hard to believe that any doctor who had the training or tools/facility to

remove a women's ovaries would actually do that.

[JackBeck]

37. You're kidding, right?

People are too literal around here sometimes, when they should be more concerned with human rights and suffering.

[NashVegas]

82. I'm Recalling the Movie "Rambling Rose"

Laura Dern's character's ovaries were removed to keep her in line.

[Ariana Celeste]

10. That's bullshit.

Punishment should end when they are done doing their time. I call for longer prison sentences.

Bullshit like this doesn't keep people safe. I have been sexually abused and the abusers were family and one time a family friend who was watching me and my siblings for a night.

[KittyWampus]

47. I would suggest they be required to live in group homes where they recieve oversight

from a professional and each other.

NPR had one of their GOOD quality programs about this subject. A good many sex offenders know their behavior is anathema to society and don't want to lapse. Living with other sex offenders can help them from lapsing much as alchoholics can help each other.

Just make sure the group home is in an area x distance from schools.

[Ariana Celeste]

93. I'd be interested in seeing how that works.

There are some sick fucks out there who yes, attack random little children, and random women (and men too). But most of the time it is family or a family friend, or a neighbor. Special plates and having their address and description pasted all over the net (in my town the police dept calls you with a recorded message describing every last detail of their appearance and where they live) are not going to keep children safe.

Got a plate on your car? If you are determined, you won't be using your car to find a victim. If you are determined, the fact that you are not allowed to live within such and such a distance from parks and schools isn't going to get in the way. All these BS after-prison punishments achieve is a false sense of security among society. Hey, I know where that sick fucker lives, I'll keep my kids away from his home and they will be safe!

Doesn't work that way.

Surely wouldn't have helped me when I was a child.

[Alexander]

11. So, some drunk guy pissing in an alleyway would be branded with this for life.

After all, it is "indecent exposure", isn't it?

Scarlet letter, anyone?

[meldroc]

77. Yep.

That's the disturbing thing about these sex-offender laws. All of the sudden, zealous prosecutors want to extend them to cover more and more categories of offenders, and now pissing in an alleyway puts you on the sex-offender registry. The last thing this country needs is yet more scarlet letters.

[karlrschneider]

13. Typical Nazi mentality.

:eyes:

[TahitiNut]

39. word

:thumbsup:

[Omphaloskepsis]

15. Do they have an election in Ohio soon?

And this is a terrible idea.. If someone has been caught, punished, and released why do you need to slap a badge on them? They are healed, Right? If you think the odds are good of them doing it again you should keep them in jail.


And I'm totally stealing one of these plates to put on my ex-girlfriends car in the middle of the night.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Add the letters G.O.P instead.

They fit fine with those pervs.

[jpgray]

17. Scarlet letter laws violate the constitution, in my view

Let them serve time, and if you let them out make sure they are rehabilitated. Can you imagine a rehabilitated sex offender picking up his daughter after soccer practice? How many calls to the police would there be?

[Madspirit]

20. Rehabilitated?!

Pedophiles have the highest recidivism rate of any crime. At this point, in psychology, there is no cure for pedophilia.

Still, "sex offender" is too broad a brush stroke. The 19 year old who got tossed in jail because his 15 year old girlfriend's daddy got pissed...the person soliciting sex with another consenting adult... These people shouldn't even have offender status and they do.

So, reluctantly, I am against this. Give actual pedophiles and serial rapists MUCH longer prison sentences, even life. Others, like the john and the 19 year old, don't give them offender status at all. The license plate thingie is sure to cause more problems than it solves. Vigilantism is too much of a problem already. I wouldn't want to get caught in the crossfire.

Where I live, we get notices in the mail if one moves into the neighborhood.
Lee

[mongo]

97. Sex offenders have lower recidivism rates than other crimes

There is a widespread misperception that people who commit
sexual crimes do it again and again. The research, however,
among released prisoners directly contradicts this. Recidivism rates for sex offenses are
relatively low, typically running in the 3-13% range, and among
the lowest of all types of crimes.

The largest, most sophisticated analysis was performed by Karl
Hanson, Solicitor General of Canada. His 2004 quantitative meta-
analysis examined research evidence and recidivism risk factors in
a total of 95 studies involving 31,000 sexual offenders with an average
follow-up time of 5 years. Hanson’s findings include:

Overall recidivism rate for new sex crimes: 13.7%
Recidivism rate for child molestation: 12.7%
Recidivism rate for child molestation within families: 8.4%
Recidivism rate for rape: 18.9%

A less nuanced study of former prisoners performed by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
reached similar conclusions, and found that people convicted of sex crimes had much lower reoffense
rates than people convicted of other crimes. The BJS study followed 9,700 people incarcerated
for sex crimes for three years after release. The findings include:

5.3% of people imprisoned for sex crimes were rearrested for another sex crime.
3.3% of people imprisoned for child molestation were rearrested for another sex crime against a child.

In contrast, the general rearrest rate for people released from prison was 68%. The highest rates

were stealing motor vehicles (79%) and possessing or selling stolen property (77%).

66.165.94.98/stories/SexOffendersReport.pdf

[La Lioness Priyanka]

54. ...

:thumbsup:

as i said if we believe that they are going to commit more crimes, then maybe we should consider life w.out parole. and not this nonsense

[WinkyDink]

18. So much for rehab and paying one's debt to society. Paroled MURDERERS are exempt, though.

Not to mention this would put the kibosh on the guy's driving in the car-pool lane.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[matcom]

21. fucking sick.

:eyes:

[LoZoccolo]

23. What did they say? n/t

[matcom]

24. another personal attack

what else :eyes:

[JackBeck]

35. In the lounge

you get to call people who disagree with certain aspects of Meagan's Law "pro-molestation". And you don't get TS'd.

Where were you when I needed a supporter?

I'll PM you the links if you don't know about the crazies in there.

[Devon77]

22. the land of the free nt

[karlrschneider]

25. This wouldn't have mattered in Yockey's case (he just died)

He abducted the girl on foot. No car involved apparently. The license plate proposal is like treating an ulcer with aspirin.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/16746492.htm

[noamnety]

26. Maybe if they worried more about the 98% of rapists that aren't sentenced at all

And less about crucifying the 2% that are convicted, we'd see some real changes in our society, instead of the macho I'm tough on crime lip service that accomplishes nothing.

[AlCzervik]

28. well assault cases will being up.

[WI_DEM]

29. A lot of sex offenders will begin to take mass transit!

[lonestarnot]

30. Ohio... figures.

[walldude]

34. Why not just put a bullseye on their car...

same difference.

[scrinmaster]

36. If they are dangerous enough to require special tags

that let other people know of their crime, they should still be in prison.

[nonconformist]

50. Precisely. nt

[TX-RAT]

61. I totally agree.

[Colobo]

38. Death Penalty for pedophiles and serial rapists

Period. I know many people here don't agree with the death penalty, and I think it should be avoided as much as possible, but for adults that rape children or serial rapists in general, there is no other solution. They are not fit to live in any society.

[wuushew]

58. Wrongful conviction exists for all classes of crime

and as you know, death is a non-reversible ailment.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

66. whats wrong w. life without parole?

[MadHound]

84. And how many people have been found innocent, years after their conviction

Sorry, but the death penalty is irreversible, and therefore due to our high rate of error in convictions, it shouldn't be used. At least if you make a mistake on somebody serving life without parole, you can release them. Make a mistake on the death penalty, and you've killed an innocent human being.

[Horse with no Name]

41. Why not just tattoo their foreheads with something subtle

like "molester"?

[Egalitarian]

42. Maybe we should tatoo their face red instead?

After all, what about when they are not driving? A red face would be easy for parents and children to recognize.

Imagine one of the red faced devils behind you in line at the grocery store! Boy, what a vibe that would create.

:sarcasm:

[TX-RAT]

69. I personally don't even want them walking the streets.

In 22 years of law enforcement I've had to work 6 child rape case's. The children's ages ran from 16 months to 14 years old. 4 of the suspects were family members or know to the family, all but 1 had prior convictions. 2 of the rapes ended in death, all ended in tragedy. The 16 month old little girl was found dead in bed with her uncle, when we went to question him. Seems she was screaming too loud so he just choked her to death, so he could continue. This was the day after the little girl was reported missing.

Just to set the record straight, so I'm not accused of being a complete ass-hole. I realize there will be those special cases that will need to be looked at closely, such as the 18 year old boy and the 15 year old girl scenario. But all in all, i truly don't care what happens to convicted child molesters and rapists, as long as it deters or keeps them away from our children. Death penalty in some case's, maybe, life in prison, i could only hope.

[NashVegas]

83. I Just Don't Believe These Plates Would Deter the Hardest Cases

Like the asshole who strangled his own niece so he could use her as a masturbation aid in quiet, if someone wants to commit a crime against another person badly enough, nothing short of physical restraints will stop them, IMO.

As someone who was a victim of chronic sexual abuse as a very young child, I see these attempts to be less of a solution to prevent further abuses and more of a way for society to wrap itself in a false blanket of safety. It's an illusion. What does it do for the victims? Big nada.

Bringing psychological & emotional aid to the victims is the best route for future prevention, IMO.

[TX-RAT]

89. They'll deter some

About the same way a police vehicle deters crime merely by it's presence. It's my opinion and my opinion only, but to really deter these horrendous crimes, we have to have life sentences for first time offenders. If their not on the street, they can't repeat.

[Egalitarian]

114. I understand where you're coming from.

I would not want to see non-reformed offenders on the streets either, and I realize that statistically, reform is difficult. Mostly I was being sarcastic in my post since I don't see putting the "mark of the beast" on offenders as a viable solution in this day, although I can imagine that years ago when we lived a more tribal existance that this would have probably worked. What's the solution? I don't know; but once convicted, the scales should be tipped so that any release only occurs after the preponderance of the evidence suggests that the possibility of repeat behavior is nearly zero.

[SoCalDem]

43. The "one strike, you're OUT" solution is the only plan that will work

Once someone gets "caught" molesting a child, you can almost always be sure they have molested MANY kids before they finally get too bold or too careless, and get caught.

They need to be separated from society FOREVER.. It's expensive and may seem cruel, but it;s the only solution if you feel that the children's safety is foremost.

websites, license plates, vigilantes only drive them to more secrecy (which they are expert at already)

I am NOT talking about the trumped up charges of a 20 yr old and his 16 yr old girlfriend.. This is why we supposedly have judges and therapists.

[KittyWampus]

51. Group homes are the solution. Supervised. And the other residents must learn

the worst thing for their kids is to FEAR these people. Be alert, yes. Be ready to flee and or yell, yes. Leave a wide berth around them, yes.

[jarab]

52. I tend to agree, SoCalDem.

It's harsh, but necessary, to protect our young ones.
...O...

[MADem]

68. Or a combination of chemical castration and an implanted tracking device that they

can't remove, that would enable authorities to see where they've been and where they're going.

The problem with the sex offenders is that because of the nature of their crime, they NEVER "do their time." Their time includes prison time, AND a lifetime on the sex offender registry. We should just acknowledge that they are a category of criminal that will always be unforgiven, and treat them that way. Implant a GPS tracking device in them, and chemically castrate them, as a condition of release after a period of time served. If they don't want those measures, they stay in jail.

[PVnRT]

46. Let's just burn a large "S" in their forehead

And we can make them where leg irons and iron collars all the time too. And it should be perfectly legal to just walk up to one and kill them in broad daylight.

If they're really that dangerous, don't let them out of jail. This mass hysteria shit is starting to wear on me.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. Why do we let sex offenders out of prison if we feel that they havent paid their debt to society?

if one truly believes that they are going to commit crimes again, why not life without parole? this is imho much more cruel and unusual.

[TX-RAT]

63. Much better than a death penalty.

[treestar]

133. Exactly. Or anyone for that matter.

One who is being excluded from society ought to still be in prison. One who leaves prison and is still excluded from society in other ways is quite dangerous to society, having little or nothing to lose.

[johnnie]

55. They put them on alcohol offender's plates

I'm not saying either way, but what do people think about the laws where they have special plates for people who have been convicted of drinking and driving?

[Bill McBlueState]

67. that's different

In the case of a DUI, the crime was directly tied to the operation of a motor vehicle. And the special plate is only required after the fifth DUI, or something.

The special plate is a very practical warning to other drivers on the road: "This driver has a history of extremely dangerous use of this vehicle."

[MADem]

70. I think that is a stupid idea, too

As I said upthread, you bag the family with that sort of broad brush. Mrs. Drunky may never touch the stuff, but she drives by with the "I'm Shitfaced" plates and everyone points and jeers. Same with Billy Drunky Junior, who takes his girl to the prom in Pa's Drunkmobile.

There are those "blow into the tube" attachments that can be put on cars--if one is concerned about drunks driving cars, that's probably a better way to go about it, without humiliating the entire family. Of course, you will ALWAYS have the horrible dad who has little Billy blow into the tube for him, but nowadays I am told they have systems that require the driver to do it at periodic intervals, so Billy Junior would have to come along for every ride.

[ComerPerro]

101. Think about it for two seconds. Maybe you'll figure it out

[johnnie]

110. Think about what?

I asked what people think about it. Did you read my post or just start frantically typing away on your keyboard?

[ComerPerro]

117. you can't figure out the difference between drunk drivers and sexual predators,

yet you are being condescending to me?

Christ

[johnnie]

119. Forget it

I won't play your games.

[ComerPerro]

120. Its not a game. Its just logic.

[johnnie]

123. I asked "what do people think about..."

Two other people told me what they think, and you tell me to think about it for 2 seconds. Was thinking about it for 2 seconds going to somehow give me your answer?

I know people who don't like having those types of plates on cars and I know some people who think it is a good idea. I just thought I would ask, I didn't think that it would throw someone off that much. Next time I will remember to stay on a direct topic so I don't scramble anyone's thoughts.

[ComerPerro]

128. The issues aren't even close to the same

[MadHound]

56. Sex offenders soon to have a target painted on their car

Sorry, but this is just wrong. If a person has been released, then they've paid their debt to society and shouldn't be forced into the sort of attention now being given sex offenders. There have already been numerous cases of houses of sex offenders being targeted for damage. There have also been a number of cases where sex offenders have been assaulted and even killed by people taking out vigilante style justice.

Doesn't anybody see where this is going? Government is establishing precedent here, with the most powerless former convicts in our population. Few people object to these increasingly draconian measures against sex offenders, after all, who will really tarnish themselves standing up for the rights of such people?

But as precedent after precedent is set up, we will, and we are seeing these sort of measures that have been applied to sex offenders being applied to other categories of people who have paid their debt to society. Here in Missouri, there is now a proposal before the legislature mandating specially colored plates for DUI offenders. What's it going to take for people to wake up to this threat? Signs in front of those who were busted for dope? A database set up showing where the former burglars live? Special plates for those who got popped on a speeding ticket?

Sorry, but this is just wrong, and frankly our whole society should be ashamed of these measures. Supposedly we got rid of the scarlet letter centuries ago.

[rug]

57. A prototype:

[BlooInBloo]

59. Stupidest idea EVER. What if someone else uses the car?

[MADem]

71. Yeah, the guy loans his car to his sister, the nun, and it's point-n-jeer time!!! NT

[TX-RAT]

72. Don't borrow cars from convicted child molesters and rapists.

[MADem]

73. What if you are Mrs. Offender, and need to get to the store to buy food for your kids?

I like my system better. Chemical castration and implanted GPS tracker. No need to worry about "special" plates, or the possiblity of loaner cars.

I mean really...you're a sex offender. You're gonna use your 'scarlet letter' car to commit another offense? PLEASE. You'd either steal plates from someone else, or steal a car.

[TX-RAT]

74. You'll get no sympathy from me, sorry.

They created their ugly little world, let them live in it.

[MADem]

76. Yes, they did. But their kids didn't. Their spouses, who may not have

many options in terms of support for their kids, didn't.

And your solution is simply punitive. You take satisfaction from the public humiliation aspect of it. But guess what--it won't STOP them. They'll swap plates or steal a car if they want to commit a crime.

My solution, OTOH, has a higher probability of success, while not tarring the childeren and the rest of the family (grandparents, aunts, uncles) with the sins of the offender.

Such a "progressive" attitude, that. Why not just bring back the stocks and public whippings?

[TX-RAT]

78. Why not just bring back the stocks and public whippings?

For child rapists and sex offenders, no problem. Good idea!

[Midlodemocrat]

94. We have a guy here who raped his daughters when they were kids.

Still living with the mother of his children. Moved into a totally family oriented neighborhood with tons of kids.

HUGE house.

Of course, everyone knows about him now, but I would love to know why she stayed with him. I would kill him first.

[TX-RAT]

102. I would love to know why she stayed with him.

Some questions just can't be answered. Why does a women stay with a man who abuses her? I can't count the number of times I've had to respond back to the same address over and over, due to a domestic disturbance.

[lectrobyte]

62. What's next? Branding "Sex Offender" into their forehead? Nuts.

[cgrindley]

64. Good on all counts

The greater good of the society has to supercede the rights of people convicted of such crimes.

[MadHound]

86. In other words, you favor vigilante "justice" eh?

That's all that this POS legislation is going to do, paint a big fat target on people. It is already happening to sex offenders who have registered their address on line. People have looked them up, hunted them down, and shot them, all the while they're believing that they're doing "justice".

What about the drunk guy who gets viewed by a child while pissing in an alley? He too will get tagged with the label of sex offender. What about the eighteen year old having consensual sex with his sixteen, seventeen year old girlfriend, he too will be labeled a sex offender.

And frankly, what about that whole notion, once common in American life that once you served your time, you free to rejoin society fully and completely, with no other penalty? I guess that's gone out the window too, thanks to the mass fear and hysteria that stalks this country.

[The2ndWheel]

92. "mass fear and hysteria that stalks this country"

There is a price to be paid for any action, and in our attempts at control and certainty, that would seem to be our bill. The more relentless our attempts, the more fearful we become.

The good thing though, after we engineer our society and biology to perfection, no more worries. No, wait, we'll be insanely frightened at any potential glitch in the system. Can you improve on perfection?

[cgrindley]

153. A legislative act is by definition NOT vigilante justice

Both of the examples you provide are sex offenders.

If a grown man should a) not be drunk in a public place, b) not pissing in a public place, c) not pissing in front of a child. If a person does commit such an act, they deserve a special licence plate, or better yet, no licence plate at all, as they should not have a licence to drive an automobile if they become so intoxicated that they piss in front of a child.

Having sex with an under age girl (age depending on jurisdiction) is a major crime. I don't give a shit if the boy 18 and she's 15. If she's legally under age, then he is a pedophile.

I don't care about the so called rights of sex offenders. There are some crimes for which you will continue to be punished.

EG I have written letters to the governor of my state to pardon a very dear friend of mine who seven years ago was convicted of heroin possession with intent. This person was convicted at 19 and since then has paid her way through college and has a BA, two MAs and a PhD. I feel that she is now ready to have that conviction pardoned. She has demonstrated that she deserves it.

But a convicted sex offender? Immediately return to society after being in jail? No way.

[MadHound]

156. Wow, such a display of heartlessness I've rarely encountered before

First of all, the vigilante justice that I was referring to wasn't the actual piece of legislation, but the fact that putting special plates on the cars of sex offenders would immediately make them a target. Like I said before, there have been many instances of people taking justice into their own hands and searching down and killing sex offenders whose information was provided by the state. Do you actually approve of such tactics, such lawlessness?

Secondly, the fact that you think a person copping a drunken piss in an alley is somehow deserving of this is just, well, unbelievable, for lack of better words. Your heartlessness and cruelty in your willingness to consign people to eternal damnation is stunning. And to top it off, you think such a person doesn't even deserve a license because they are so drunk. Ummm, clue for you, the guy isn't driving while drunk, he's on foot, d'uh.

And that you are willing to throw away young people's lives away so easily is breathtaking. Gee, I guess my "pedophile" cousin should be eternally damned then, eh? After all, he was seventeen(of legal age), she was sixteen(not of legal age), they consensually got in on, and a pregancy resulted*gasp*. And after all of these years, it tore her up so bad that she not only married my cousin, but they are still happily married thirty years later. Their crime? Being six months difference in age. Is this the sort of person that you wish to visit your wrath on? If so, you are one sick, heartless puppy.

And frankly, your whole attitude in regards to "There are some crimes for which you will continue to be punished." is quite frankly against the great spirit up which this country was founded, and for most of these past two hundred and thirty years, run on. If you had done your time, you were free to rejoin society, fully and freely. The position that you are taking is, quite frankly, unAmerican and without mercy, justice or compassion.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for your lack of heart, compassion, justice or mercy. Something horrible must have happened to you in order to make you this way. And for that, I'm sorry also. But please, don't let your own personal experiences deny justice and mercy to others who are also deserving.

[cgrindley]

163. But that's just not true

there are plenty of crimes that even today continue to incur a variety of punishments long after "the time has been served". The tradition of permanently denying some privileges or rights is as old as the nation.

Here's a contemporary example for you:

Most convicted felons cannot own firearms.

Are you against that?

[MadHound]

166. True that, but a far cry from having a target placed on one's ass for the rest of your life

And frankly, the ban on firearms is about the only thing that I can think of. Sure, former felons may not initially be able to vote, but in time they can. Demonizing sex offenders like this does not solve any of the problems, in fact it exacerbates them. These people can't find a place to live, can't drive without risking their life, generally can't hold a job. What are they supposed to do?

And all of this, at least in some cases, for having a drunken piss in an alley. Or having consensual sex with a woman who is six months their junior, and thus a minor.

I truly hope that you never have to face your own twisted, brutal form of justice.

[cgrindley]

167. No one *has* to drive

It's a privilege not a right. The ownership of firearms is, actually, a constitutionally-protected right.

Sex with minors is always wrong.

Pissing in alleys is disgraceful.

My brutal form of justice at least doesn't include support for capital punishment, which my homeland bans and which yours currently tolerates.

[Ilsa]

75. Would "sex offender" also include the 17 yo boy caught kissing a 15 yo girl?

After all, they are getting labeled as sex offenders in many areas. Kind of makes the whole thing seem ridiculous when it shouldn't be.

I doubt a license plate will help. They'll remove it before going out if they've planned a crime.

[nonconformist]

126. It clearly states in the article and in the OP that this is only for the worst offenders

Habitual offenders and child predators.

[Little Wing]

79. how about some flashing orange lights and old tires wrapped around the frame

like tubboats

[Little Wing]

80. If you live in North Dakota, and live with someone you fuck, you're a sex offender

[htuttle]

81. In some places, if you take a piss in an alleyway, you're a sex offender...

...charged with 'public indecency'.

[Madspirit]

85. Most states

Including my own very conservative state, Texas, now consider the amount of age difference. In other words, a 19 year old would not be convicted for kissing a 15 year old.

We are talking about people who fuck tiny tiny children. Stop pretending like we are talking about anything else.

I am against the license tag thing. I am for life in a prison psych ward without the possibility of parole until such a time psychology can actually treat pedophilia. As it stands, it has the highest recidivism rate of any crime. Lock them up.

(Also, assuming they did do this license tag thing, I have no sympathy for someone who would borrow or use the car of a pedophile or who would marry one and have children with them. This is just the answer to the very odd protestations about "uhhh...what if he lends his car to his sister." *snort* Sister, don't borrow your child-fucking brother's car.)

...and to the person who wants the death penalty. I do not support the death penalty EVER for anything. Especially this crime. You might as well go into a room full of tiny children who have been pulled from homes where they were sexually abused and shoot seven of them. Statistics say that several of them will grow up to also abuse children. It really is a cycle and it really is an illness. The great majority of child abusers were abused as children. Anything else is RW spin. A civilized people do not execute their mentally ill. If they are dangerous, they remove them from society. Anything else and YOU become the monster.
Lee

[TX-RAT]

91. We are talking about people who fuck tiny tiny children.

Amazing how so many miss that. Well said.

[Blue_In_AK]

87. This is just wrong. n/t

[Lester222]

88. fine, but...

...if they could finally stop prosecuting people as sex offenders for things such as consentual oral sex...

[Madspirit]

90. When was the last time

Tell the truth. When was the last time you heard of someone convicted of consensual oral sex between adults?
Lee

[EOTE]

124. Here's an example...

http://www.metafilter.com/58061/Teen-does-10-years-for-oral-sex

Sounds pretty damn fucked up to me. Things like this happen far more than you'd likely imagine. It needs to stop.

[KamaAina]

95. If you're gonna go to that extreme, why let them drive at all?

After all, (chorus) "Driving is a privilege, not a right." Some states even take away licenses from drivers who drop out of high school. And if sex offenders can't drive, they can't cruise the playground anymore, right?

:sarcasm:

KamaAina's Law of Laws states that (insert child victim's name here) Law, no matter how well intended, ALWAYS turns out to be bad law, with many unintended consequences.

[HuffleClaw]

96. unconstitutional i expect

a slippery slope too. who would be NEXT to be labelled?

[Dinger]

130. That Is My Concern (nt)

[Perky]

98. It makes far more sense to loJack the car

Look I get the notion that folks want to know where the habitual predators are at all times. Knowing where they live is probably reasonable through an internet database. But having them "wear" such a scarlet letter seems cruel and unusual after they have served their time.

If the idea is to know where they are at all times then put a GPS in their cars It is pretty simple technology to capture the car's movements on a continual basis and even alarm if the car sstops within a given distance of a high risk area like a school or playground or even a school bus stop.

[SaveElmer]

99. Would do more harm than good...

Smacks of vigilantism...the government couldn't legally harm them, so they will make sure the public does it.


I guarantee if this goes into effect, someone will decide to take it as a license to do bodily harm to that person.

If the object is to make sure they do not repeat their crime, there are far more effective ways to do it than this...

[ComerPerro]

100. so how exactly does this solve anything, aside from getting them regularlly beaten?

[TX-RAT]

106. aside from getting them regularlly beaten?

Sorry but I'm far more concerned about small children getting raped, abused and murdered, than some sick fuck getting the shit kicked out of him. If it was left up to me, he'd never leave prison.

[ComerPerro]

107. so why don't you tell me how this prevents small children from getting abused and raped and murdered

Or are you just about feel-good, empty gestures like this, that don't actually solve a damn thing?

[TX-RAT]

113. Gives the public and law enforcement, better means to monitor.

Your barking up the wrong tree, i don't believe they should ever get out of prison. These people have raped and killed small children, fuck'im.

[ComerPerro]

116. "call 911! there's a sexual predator buying groceries!"

[TX-RAT]

118. Now thats funny.

Yea! that will happen allot. Not!

[ComerPerro]

121. yeah, you're right. Americans are so smart and calm and rational

I've never known them to overreact or try to take legal matters in their own hands. That has never happened, in the history of the United States. You are so right.

[TX-RAT]

127. What a waste of sarcasm.

Nothing you could say would change my opinion or concerns for people who fuck, abuse and kill, tiny children.

As i said before, " Fuck'im "

[ComerPerro]

129. Sounds like you would love this kind of law

Sure, it doesn't do jack shit to actually solve anything or address any real issues.

But hey, at least its something, right? And you can pat yourself on the back with smug satisfaction that you are making a difference, "for the children".

[TX-RAT]

135. You are amazing.

(it doesn't do jack shit to actually solve anything or address any real issues.)


It hasn't been implemented nor is it even a law yet. You don't have a clue whether it will work or not, nor do I. But I'm at least willing to give it a try and base my judgments until after it's been in place for a while.

If it makes a convicted child molester uncomfortable, or cause them an inconvenience, to damn bad, it's their own fault.. Their the least of my concerns.

Here's your real issue!

People are raping and killing children.

[ComerPerro]

141. And I honestly and sincerely belive that you don't give a damn about child vicitms

Because, quite frankly, if you did, you might want a measure that actually helps protect children, and you wouldn't be so obesessed with punishment and vindication.

Honestly, I think you're just sick, and you'd rather focus on punishment than prevention, reform, or education.

[TX-RAT]

149. Wow

You defend the rights of child molesters, child rapists and child murderers and then have the gall to call me sick, because I'd rather see them in prison than roaming the streets, parks and school yards.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

150. I agree with ComerPerro.

I'm reminded of Mark Foley, who was a big advocate of child protection. In public.

"You defend the rights of child molesters, child rapists and child murderers"

You say that like there's something wrong with it.

[ComerPerro]

152. No, I say you are complete bullshit, and it really shows

you aren't about results. just punishment. And you don't even care about the victims you claim to champion. You just do it to boost your own smugness.

Moreover, if you actually gave a shit, you woudln't have jumped to the "all sex offenders are murderers" line of crap.

But hey, if it makes you feel like a big shot, pretending that you care, more power to ya,

[TX-RAT]

157. (you aren't about results.) wow! never said i was.

(you woudln't have jumped to the "all sex offenders are murderers" line of crap.)

Once again you stand before all and prove just how fucking ignorant you really are. Show any where in any of my post where i said all sex offenders are murderers. It won't take long, i never did. If you wish to continue this conversation, i suggest you take a class in reading comprehension. Until then don't bother responding, you'll be on ignore.

For some strange reason this discussion with you makes me feel like i need a shower.

[treestar]

134. Murderers would still be in jail

The individuals affected by this would not be murderers.

[TX-RAT]

137. You rape, or molest a child.

I want you in jail forever. I don't care if it's a first offence. No room in my world for these individuals.

[ComerPerro]

143. You sound familiar. Who have I heard say that before? Hmm...

Bill OReiley, is that you?

Just so you know, not all "sex offenders" raped or murdered or molested children.

[TX-RAT]

148. Now you resort to insults, not to surprising.

(Just so you know, not all "sex offenders" raped or murdered or molested children.)


Just so you know, i never said they did. I even made exception for certain situations.

If you want to defend the rights of child molesters, child rapists and child murderers, then by all means go right ahead. I have and always will defend the children, if you don't like it Tuff Shit.

Have a nice day!

[ComerPerro]

151. Pathetic

insults?

You started that way back with your condescening replies.

Look, take your self-righteous bullshit elsewhere, cause you sure as hell aren't very liberal.

Maybe you would be better off stroking off to your torture and murder fantaises at a right wing website, its better accepted there.

[kiahzero]

164. Please remember...

A lite-brite shut down the city of Boston for a day.

[NotGivingUp]

103. if they are habitual predators, keep them in jail!!! good lord!!

let all the people out that don't deserve to be in jail.... such as the ones in on drug charges...and keep the DANGEROUS criminals IN jail! gee...what a novel idea! is this too much to ask?

[nomo]

104. Just give 'em yellow stars

[MilesColtrane]

109. Tattoo a large red "S" across the front of their faces.

So you can be busted for loaning a sex offender your car? What if someone concealed that status from you?

[ComerPerro]

108. Actually, you can already spot a sex offender by an identifier on their car

[dogday]

112. That's the ticket and make them ride with smokers

in their cars too :sarcasm:

[AZBlue]

115. I'd rather see repeat DUI offenders with special license plates.

Since that's something that actually takes place in the vehicle itself.

[ComerPerro]

122. no kidding. I mean, honestly, can anyone here seriously imagine a scenario

where a sex offender stops to pick up a child, and the exchange goes something like:

"Sure, I'll ride with you"

"cool, hop in"

"Wait, you aren't a sex offender, are you?"

"Hey, kid, if I was, I'd have the license plate"

"Oh, right. My bad. Now how bout that ride?"

[AZBlue]

154. HAHA! Exactly!

And you know, a similar thought went through my mind when I read it: are the plates supposed to identify them if they park at a playground? Might they not just, oh I don't know, say, park down the street and walk??

[ComerPerro]

155. Yeah, no kidding. "Damn, I really want to rape children, but I don't wanna walk". Come on.

[Sapere aude]

125. I always feel that there is something wrong with those who constantly have to talk or feel there is

something they need to be doing about sex offenders. It is called the "Reaction Formation"


http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/coping/reaction_formation.htm

Description

Reaction Formation occurs when a person feels an urge to do or say something and then actually does or says something that is effectively the opposite of what they really want. It also appears as a defense against a feared social punishment. If I fear that I will be criticized for something, I very visibly act in a way that shows I am personally a long way from the feared position.

A common pattern in Reaction Formation is where the person uses ‘excessive behavior’, for example using exaggerated friendliness when the person is actually feeling unfriendly.
Example

A person who is angry with a colleague actually ends up being particularly courteous and friendly towards them.

A man who is gay has a number of conspicuous heterosexual affairs and openly criticizes gays.

A mother who has a child she does not want becomes very protective of the child.

An alcoholic extols the virtues of abstinence.
Discussion

A cause of Reaction Formation is when a person seeks to cover up something unacceptable by adopting an opposite stance.

[slackmaster]

132. They should get specially marked driver's licenses

Putting it on a license plate would make them vulnerable to attack by vigilantes.

[ComerPerro]

146. would solve even less to put it on their license

[AllegroRondo]

138. delete

[truebrit71]

139. GAYS TO GET PINK STARS ON THEIR LICENSE PLATES.

Jews will get yellow ones etc etc...

Now that I have your attention....

This sort of thing has been tried before...in Europe...some 60 years ago...it was very popular back then too...

Lets say you're an 18-yr old, and you get pinched shaggin your 17-yr old g/f BINGO! you get one of those plates...so one night a drunken bastard decides to take the law into his own hands because he thinks the 18-yr old is a perv 'cos he has one of those special STATE-MANDATED "I like to *&^% kids" license plates and kills the 18 yr-old...

Can you imagine the size of the lawsuit that would be filed...?

Stupid, stupid idea...

Oh, and when was it exactly that the entire US got into the way-back machine and stepped into the Middle Ages again?

[ComerPerro]

147. hell, some people here think that if you are the person you described

you should go to prison. Forever.

[Dukkha]

142. complete waste of time for all above mentioned reasons

and this is from the same state that has an anti-abortion license plate.

Not that I'm condoning sex offenders but it feels like Double Jeopardy to me. If they've served time and are trying to re-enter society rehabilitated then these plates would be detrimental of that. The notices mailed out to the neighbors is sufficient enough. This feeds into the mob rule mentality of branding scarlet letters onto criminals. This country has a long ways to go with it's judicial system. we're as uncivilized and on the same level as a savage third world country as we have repeatedly proven at Abu-Ghirab and Gitmo.

[ComerPerro]

144. Exactly right. Isn't that why we send them to prison in the first place?

[mtnester]

158. They already do that here for DUI drivers

I am not sure how I feel about "special" plates for anyone.

[LeftishBrit]

159. This is ridiculous

If people are that dangerous, they should be kept locked up. If they are not, then they should not be made a target for vigilantes. Plus I suspect that it would be only a matter of time before some idiots misread an innocent person's license plates - or even planted the sex-offender license plates on someone they didn't like - and got them targeted and attacked. In the UK a few years ago, a doctor's home was vandalized because some vigilantes had misread 'pediatrician' as 'pedophile'.

[helderheid]

160. Will Mark Foley get one?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

165. No, he went to "rehab"

he's much better now

(or not)

[Tektonik]

161. Whereas violent sex offenders should be punished severely

I don't think this is a proper manner in doing so. I believe websites such as www.meganslaw.ca.gov/ bring out enough awareness of these criminals acts w/o creating spur of the moment lynchings of these people (even if they have acted disgustingly in the past, they still have rights).

[LTR]

162. I have no sympathy for rapists and child molesters, however...

...this license plate thing sounds like a catastrophe in the making.

I really don't want to see vigilantism on the highways. I say longer sentences would be more appropriate.