In good news for the People of North Carolina who want to protect their children against child predator’s, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has signed Jessica’s Law in to effect Monday
Gov. Mike Easley signed a bill Monday that establishes minimum 25-year sentences for sex offenders who commit certain crimes against children.
The measure, known as Jessica’s Law, is named after former Gaston County resident Jessica Lunsford. The 9-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and buried alive by a convicted sex offender in 2005 in Florida.
Easley was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Jessica Lunsford’s father, Mark Lunsford, who has lobbied states across the country to approve similar measures to protect children from dangerous child predators. Mark Lunsford visited the North Carolina General Assembly last year to push for the bill’s passage.
The measure, which applies to crimes committed on and after Dec. 1, was overwhelmingly approved by legislators earlier this month.
The law requires adult offenders who commit certain sex crimes – including rape – against children under the age of 13 to be imprisoned for 25 years to life. Offenders who are released will be monitored by satellite for life.
The measure also boosts the penalties for other sex-related crimes when they involve children – such as promoting the prostitution of a minor – and further restricts sex offenders from going to areas where kids congregate, such as children’s museums.
So far, the ACLU of North Carolina is quiet, but, then, they are always quiet, particularly during the Duke Lacrosse rape case. But, that is neither here nor there. The parent organization is not happy with Jessica’s Law, so, I guess we wait to find out what they will do, and whether the bleeding hearts who prefer to protect child predator’s over the children will make some noise.
Teach your constant referral to liberals is a bit silly, EXACTLY how powerful of a force are they in the state of North Carolina ? A more pertinent question might have been “why did it take such a long time in such a red atte for this to pass?”
Constantly referring to liberals? In my state of Colorado we have a Dem governor and legislature. They refuse to pass Jessica’s Law. So there it is. Protect the offender, not the victim. Fuckers.
Funny…. I read and re-read the above post 10 times, and nowhere did I see Teach refer to liberals. I saw references to the ACLU, child predators, and to bleeding hearts. Unless you are relating liberal to each of those terms.
Acutally, John, liberals are not that powerful in NC. Democrats are, as they are, and have been, the major party at the State level for a long, long time. There is a difference here in the South. And it took a long time because it was Democrats in control. MBP has it right: I never wrote liberals.
But, as Stacy points out, liberals in Colorado are blocking Jessica’s law, as are those in Vermont and several other states.