Jessica’s Law failed: Colo House Judiciary Committee says "Guns bad" but "Raping children OK"

[DeusExMachina]

Our new friends at the House Judiciary Committee, who just yesterday voted along party lines to pass "universal background checks" and "assault magazine ban" legislation, did some more voting today. Today they voted (along party lines) to shut down "Jessica's Law", which would mean tougher penalties on first offenders in the sexual assault of a child under the age of 14.

DENVER - On Wednesday, the father of a 9-year-old who was brutally raped and killed in Florida in 2005 was in Denver testifying in support of Jessica's Law. His arguments were not enough to pass the bill out of the House Committee, however.

The law died on a 7-4 party-line vote.

The law was created for Jessica Lunsfort. It asks states to adopt mandatory sentencing for first-time offenders who are convicted of sex crimes against children under the age of 14.

Colorado already monitors sex offenders after they are released, which is the second major component of Jessica's Law.

Mark Lunsford testified in front of a house committee meeting on Wednesday in support of the law. He said he will always testify but has not had to in the 44 other states where Jessica's Law is already in place.

"The most amazing part are the states that did [passed Jessica's law] without me testifying," Lunsford said. "They did not need influence from parents or organizations or the people, they did it on their own. Other states do not need to be convinced they just need to be sure that they are doing it the right way."

Lawmakers killed Jessica's Law in committee on Wednesday afternoon.

"Mandatory sentencing to protect children from pedophiles should be a 'no brainer,'" state Rep. Libby Szabo, the sponsor of House Bill 1149, said after the bill died. "Forty percent of released sexual offenders perpetrate a new crime within a year of being released, and the majority of the children they molest are kids under 13."

I have no words for how absolutely disgusted I am.

[TS12000]

Get with it man its the golden age for being some fucked up criminal and or scumbag parasite.

[Rooskibar03]

Want your blood to boil?

The same progressive party who yesterday voted to move forward to protect us from evil high cap magazines shot down, ALONG PARTY LINES, Jessica's law.

It asks states to adopt mandatory sentencing against people who commit crimes against children under the age of 14.

7-4 against.

We are screwed. There is no hope.

http://www.9news.com/news/article/31...s-in-committee

[Geology Rocks]

We need to figure out a way to get these people to be held accountable for their actions. If my child was harmed by a repeat offerend I would be suing every single one of them.

[KestrelBike]

We need to figure out a way to get these people to be held accountable for their actions. If my child was harmed by a repeat offerend I would be suing every single one of them.

Suing? You're not thinking ... vengeful enough.

[zteknik]

Hypocritical to say the least..
Ban mags and evil rifles for the sake of the children,but a law that directly protects them gets voted out...
The politicians children fall under different protection standards-their special,regular laws they write need not apply to the politicos...

[Fmedges]

Typical. Seriously what the fuck.

[Yota]

How do you even respond to this....

The title of the thread reads like a good campaign slogan for whoever runs against the "7" during the next election.

[KestrelBike]

Typical. Seriously what the fuck.

after last night's Dog & Pony, I just can't take this shit anymore.

[Fmedges]

after last night's Dog & Pony, I just can't take this shit anymore.

Im having to do some soul searching as well.