MORE "KNEE JERK" LAWS?? WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

NB mayor proposes "safety zones" to keep sex offenders away from kids in public places

February 11, 2008 3:26 PM

NEW BEDFORD — Mayor Scott W. Lang has submitted an ordinance to the City Council that would establish child safety zones around public places where children gather.

The proposed ordinance was drafted at the mayor’s request in the wake of a Jan. 30 sexual assault by a Level 3 sex offender against a 6-year-old boy in the New Bedford Free Public Library.

The ordinance would create specific public areas in the city where child sex offenders are prohibited., including:-- parks-- playgrounds-- recreation centers-- libraries-- schools-- day care centers-- private youth centers-- video arcades-- bathing beaches-- swimming and wading pools-- gymnasiums-- sports fields and facilities-- school and camp bus stops
Parking areas and the land surrounding the facilities also would be part of the child safety zones.

“I do not have any qualms about protecting the kids in our city; they are my number one concern,” Mayor Lang said in a prepared statement.

“I want to send a clear message to all Level 2 and Level 3 child sex offenders that New Bedford is going to do everything it can to protect the children in our community from the individuals who prey on them,” the statement said.

The mayor also has provided the Library Board of Trustees with a list of six recommendations to tighten up security at the library, including installing a system that would require all people entering the facility to show photo identification and produce a library card.

{I have this vision in my mind of people being herded into lines before they can dive in at the beach with police checking ID'S against sex offender registries across the country.

Maybe that’s a good idea, it seems that only when people are greatly inconvenienced that they decide to check out what’s going on and educate themselves rather than taking the word of whatever talking head is in the 6 o clock news. I have a few questions.

If sex offender registries are making children safer HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

If this guy was that dangerous WHY WAS HE OUT OF PRISON OR TREATMENT??

If laws and regulations are the answer why not make drugs illegal? Why not make robbery and murder illegal? How about domestic violence?

Hey, we could even have "mandatory minimum" sentences that will stop it right?

Shit? We are doing that already aren't we? I think we all know how well that’s going and all the regulations in the world will not completely stop the sexual abuse of children.

This guy was one of the minority 5% of ex offenders that had re offended but you see how the story is sensationalized?95% of all new sex crimes will be committed by people NOT ON ANY REGISTRTY!!

Yet we focus all of our resources and finances on the 5% and ignore the 100% of the population that will commit almost all new sex crimes.

I have to hand it to the politicians this issue is political gold. You can propose any legislation you want involving so called "sex offenders" and the "sheeple" will give you a pat on the back.

Also built right in is the safeguard that no other politician will contest these laws no matter how ridiculous, even with the true facts and statistics that are now available, because come re election time anyone that apposes these laws for any reason will be crushed with campaign ad's that paint them as "soft" on sex offenders.

I have a few more questions about this case. Why was this 6 year old child left ALONE at a library?????

Not that a six year old would understand but why was he not educated by his parents about the dangers of going off with people he did not know??

Not trying to victim bash the child but WHAT THE FUCK?? A six year old child left alone at a library???

Did his parents not know about the 5% of ex offenders that could re offend or more seriously the 100% of the general public that will commit 95% of all new sex offences??

Hate to go to long but here is a message for everyone in the RSO community!!! This mayor said he wants to send a message to all level 2-3 offenders??

The AWA act will be debated in all 50 states this year. I personally got a huge promotion from a "sexually oriented offender" to what’s called a tier 2 offender under the AWA act.

Same person!! No new crime!! Just new label and 15 years added to my sentence. MOST OF THE REGRISTRANTS IN MY STATE HAVE MET WITH A SIMILAR PROMOTION!!Get active and GET INVOLVED!! }

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/NEWS/80211042/-1/TOWN1001