Free At Last….Or At Least After Nine Days
State AG Troy King removed his ankle bracelet today, celebrating the passage of tougher legislation to punish sex offenders. So now we’ll have no idea where he is. Scary.
House members originally voted to include an amendment by Rep. Steve Hurst, D-Munford, to require mandatory surgical castration for sex offenders convicted of crimes against children under 12. That provision was removed after King warned it might cause courts to declare the bill unconstitutional.
Former Gov. Don Siegelman said Wednesday he doesn’t believe the bill that passed the Legislature is strong enough. Siegelman said the Legislature should have required a life sentence and castration after the first offense for violent adult offenders who harm children and the death penalty after the second offense.
“Anyone who thinks an ankle bracelet is going to stop a child predator is living in a dreamland,” Siegelman said.
Let me be clear that I am all for severe punishment of sex offenders. But Don recommends that we take garden clippers to the private parts of sex offenders, conjuring up images of hitching posts and chain gangs. Next thing we know he’ll be accusing Troy of being soft on crime. I I’m not sure which one is the bigger grandstander, but I wish they’d both shut up.