Last fall, the MSM inundated us with propaganda supporting Proposition 66, which would have seriously watered down California's tough "three strikes" law and immediately freed thousands, if not tens of thousands of repeat offenders. Now, you can't turn on the TV without hearing about Jessica Lunsford. What they don't tell you is that Lunsford's alleged killer, John Evander Couey, had "only" one sex offense but a long list of other felonies, most of which were residential burglaries that currently count as "strikes" but would not anymore if Prop 66 had passed. Couey's profile seems quite similar to that of Richard Allen Davis, before he kidnapped and murdered Polly Klaas in 1993. As surely as Davis symbolized the need for a three strikes law in 1994, Couey symbolizes the need for one in Florida (and everywhere else) now. If any of Couey's post-1994 felonies had been committed in California, or if Florida had matched our three strikes law with a similar law of their own, Couey would have been locked away a long time ago, and Jessica Lundsford would be alive today.
The next time someone lectures you about our three strikes law supposedly being too harsh, just remember this: while the good people of Florida debate what to do with John Evander Couey and how to prevent the next person like him from doing the same (see petition here), somewhere here in California, some family you've never heard of is enjoying some quality time with their photogenic, nine-year-old daughter, blissfully unaware of the monster who would have kidnapped, raped and murdered her last week if he hadn't been rotting in prison over a series of "nonviolent" offenses he committed many years ago.
Posted by Xrlq at March 22, 2005 02:20 PM | TrackBackVery well said, xrlq. BTW, it's great to see you post here.
Posted by: clark smith at March 22, 2005 08:08 PM (Permalink)During session here in FL we need to be very assertive in changing the laws regarding sexual offenders and sexual predators. They have been studied over the years by specialists at John Hopkins, Case Western, etc., and there is no cure except death. They should be locked up for life, the lives of innocent children across the nation depend on it
Posted by: LM at March 25, 2005 12:04 PM (Permalink)I have a son-in-law , who is now seperated from my daughter, that lives in Margate, Fl. He is a registered sex offender. My problem is that he is allowed to see my grandson during the summer. What laws would allow something like this to happen. He may not be allowed to be around other children, but nothing is stoppng him from being around his own.
Posted by: Kathy at April 21, 2005 03:29 PM (Permalink)