Bush Signs Anti-Kidnap Law

[stratoman]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60905-2003Apr30.html

Reuters

Wednesday, April 30, 2003; 3:35 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Flanked by Elizabeth Smart and other rescued kidnap victims, President Bush signed a law on Wednesday expanding the "AMBER Alert" warning systems to help find children who have been abducted.

The new law, revived in March when the Smart family called emphatically for its passage, also adds tough measures to crack down on child predators, molesters and pornographers.

"Because of you, children and parents you may never meet will be spared from the harm and anguish your families have known," Bush told the Smarts and other victims.

The new law allows lifetime supervision of released sex offenders, extends the statute of limitations for child abductions and sex crimes, denies pretrial release for child rapists or child abductors and makes a life sentence mandatory for a two-time child sex offender.

Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch called it one of the most sweeping child protection laws in history. "It's a get-tough bill," he told reporters.

Some Democrats said they voted for it despite civil liberties concerns over tough crime measures such as pretrial detention and objections to a provision that would modify aspects of federal sentencing guidelines.

Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted at knifepoint from her bedroom last year, stood silently beside her parents during the White House signing ceremony.

Afterward, the 15-year-old shook Bush's hand. It was her first major public appearance since being rescued in March just miles from her Salt Lake City home. She had been abducted nine months earlier.

The new law will help states set up AMBER Alert systems and assist in coordinating them across state and regional lines. The alerts use local media and other community warning tools like electronic highway signs to get word out immediately about an abduction when a child's life may be endangered.

Bush credited the AMBER system with becoming an increasingly important tool for investigators. Already in use in many states, such alerts have been credited with recovering more than 50 children.

"No child should ever have to experience the terror of abduction or worse," Bush said.

AMBER stands for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response" and is named after Amber Hagerman, a Texas girl kidnapped and murdered in 1996.

lets see how the dems spin this.

[Yomar]

Originally posted by stratoman

lets see how the dems spin this. [/b]

I'd like to see you have a non-partisan thought for once, guess everyone has a dream

[TheKurp]

What's to spin?

I'm beginning to tire of this same old line repeated ad nauseum every time something political is posted here by the Right.

I guess originality and creativity isn't inherent with the Right.

[Kilmer17]

Actually it was a group of GOP congressman that were holding this bill up.

It's a good law, Im glad they got it passed and signed.

[gridironmike]

Kinda a common sense law, isn't it.

[Yomar]

I didn't follow it very closely, but I remember it being debated months ago and one of the questions was if there were some unnecessary, over the top aspects to the bill that some believed were being peddled under the guise of child protection. Certainly no one is going to oppose a common sense child protection law, so I would expect the measure of common sense in this bill to be debatable, but I don't really know

[Canyonero!]

Now even kidnapping is illegal? Damn this oppressive Government.

[AJWatson3]

hopefully they will start installing those giant road sign that post what child is missing where all over the country.

maybe they can post sports scores or stock news when there is no national emergency about a missing child.

[Golgo-13]

Originally posted by Canyonero!

Now even kidnapping is illegal? Damn this oppressive Government.

:laugh: :laugh: good one

[JimboDaMan]

Originally posted by stratoman

[blets see how the dems spin this. [/b]

Doesn't this brainless nonsense ever stop? You must be a lot of fun at parties, Slick.

Its a good bill.

[stratoman]

Originally posted by JimboDaMan

Doesn't this brainless nonsense ever stop? You must be a lot of fun at parties, Slick.

Its a good bill.

yes it is a good bill. I was never this partisan till after 9/11. I got feed up with the GOP while Bush SR was in office, he didn't finish the job in Iraq and he raised taxes so I voted for Clinton in 92.

I do not believe in everything the GOP stands for but got sick and tired of the libs going out of their way to blame everything on President Bush. By the way I don't go by "slick" jimbob

[Henry]

I gotta admit, the pretrial detention bit bugs me a little. Its that whole 'innocent until proven guilty' thing, I guess. But I don't know the specifics.

Otherwise it does look like a good idea.

[endzone_dave]

"Some Democrats said they voted for it despite civil liberties concerns over tough crime measures such as pretrial detention and objections to a provision that would modify aspects of federal sentencing guidelines. "

Lucky for the child molesters they have the Democrats on their side.

[TheKurp]

What part of "Democrats said they voted for it" don't you understand?

[The Evil Genius]

Kilmer - yeah it was sad that the GOP was blocking it - I guess they had another pet-bill that they wanted enacted instead? I wonder what "fat" was attached to that bill?

GOP Leadership Blocks Attempt to Bring AMBER Bill to House Floor

Rep. Frost spoke on the House Floor today to urge enactment of the National AMBER Alert Network Act (S. 121/H.R. 412). The House Republican leadership denied Rep. Frost’s request for unanimous consent to take up the Senate-passed AMBER bill in the House today. House Republican leaders have scheduled a different bill, the Child Abduction Protection Act (H.R. 1104), for consideration this week, but have refused to bring up the AMBER bill. Below is Rep. Frost’s statement:

“When it comes to protecting our children, this House should never allow politics-as-usual to stand in the way of action.

“The House Republican Leadership could allow Members to vote TODAY to send legislation strengthening America’s AMBER Alerts to the President. It’s time to stop playing politics on this issue, so in a moment, I will request unanimous consent to immediately take up the AMBER bill in the House.

“Five children have been rescued with the aid of the AMBER Alert in March alone. By passing the AMBER bill, we can make this life-saving program even more effective. But that will only happen soon if we listen to people like Ed Smart and others, and stop allowing politics to hijack the AMBER bill.

“So M. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that as the first order of business on Tuesday, March 18th, it shall be in order without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House S. 121, the National AMBER Alert Network Act.

[The Chair responded that “Under the Speaker’s announced policy…” Rep. Frost was not allowed to offer the motion to take up the AMBER bill.]

“I regret the ruling of the chair. The House has been prevented from voting on the AMBER bill for over six months and counting. This issue shouldn’t be treated like just another horse-trade with the Senate. I implore the leaders of this House to let us do the right thing for our children and send the AMBER bill to President Bush this week.”

[JimboDaMan]

Hmm. From the wording I had assumed that meant convicted offenders suspected for a second crime. If it simply means anyone charged, then I do have problems with that provision. God help anybody involved in a custody battle.

OK, strat, I retract the "Slick".

[stratoman]

Originally posted by JimboDaMan

OK, strat, I retract the "Slick".

no problem.

[stratoman]

Many studies have shown that the majority of child molesters never rehabilitate so I would suggest the 2nd time around they should be castrated, and the 3rd time a frontal lobotomy. That would slow them down a little bit.

[Kilmer17]

Im all for forced castration for repeat offenders, as well as notification laws. But it's a thin line.

What do you do to the 18 year kid who sleeps with his 17 year old girlfriend and her dad gets pissed?

There should be no spin on this at all. Members of the GOP were holding this one up. The reasons may have been legit, but it doesnt change the fact that they were the speedbump.

[JimboDaMan]

Kilmer, I think that's adequately handled by laws allowing a latitude based on their relative ages. Something like the 18-yr-old can't be prosecuted unless the girl is 3 or 4 years younger, but a 25-yr-old would be prosecuted for the same girl. At least, that's the way things used to be, hopefully the current climate hasn't trashed that bit of sensibility.

[Kilmer17]

Jimbo, I havent researched these new laws, but Im pretty sure that was one of the holdups.

[JimboDaMan]

I took a quick look but came up empty. The text of the bill, as I found it, was quite sparse. When I looked deeper I got mired in a morass of testimony ("Will the Senator from the State of Confusion yield to the Senator from the State of Grace...") and I have little patience for that nonsense. If anybody comes across details I'd be interested.

[Henry]

When I was a lad I knew the details of this law.

Back then if the girl was less than two years younger than you it was ok. So if you were 18 or 19 you could legally, um, date a 17 year old.

Don't know if the laws today are the same, but that was Virginia in the 80s.

[phishhead]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure its still like that. At least in WV.

I'm 18, so I can have sex legally, I think, with a 16 year old girl. Or I hope thats how it works, anyway.