OH- Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse

8-17-2008 Ohio:

Columbus -- It's a sad day when we have to pass laws to stop perverts from stealing and then drinking youngsters' urine.

But that's just where things stand in summertime Columbus, where two Republican lawmakers recently announced their intentions to introduce such a measure, in light of the recent actions of repeat offenders near capital city and their tendencies toward children.

State Sen. Steve Stivers and Rep. Jim Hughes, both Columbus-area Republicans, said their bills would make it a crime in Ohio "to collect urine, blood, tissue or other bodily substances without consent of the individual." (For those who give their consent: Yuck.)

First-time offenders would face misdemeanor charges, with penalties increased to felonies on subsequent ones. Additionally, the legislation would ban convicted child rapists from "having unlawful interaction with children," with offenders facing felony charges and up to 18 months in jail.

(I would have thought that sex offenders and all others already were banned from having "unlawful" interaction with children. Of course, I'm also the guy who doesn't know the difference between millions and billions.)

The bills stem from two incidents that occurred earlier this year. In June, according to the lawmakers, a convicted sex offender was discovered at a recreational facility "attempting to obtain and drink the urine of boys using the facilities," according to a release. "Despite the fact that the same man has been arrested for similar incidents numerous times over the years, area police could only charge him with criminal mischief because there are no laws on the books to specifically prohibit this activity."

And in July, another known sex offender was spotted repeatedly around another suburban community, armed with comic books and in the vicinity of children who were "around the same age as the 7-year-old boy he admitted to raping in 1996," according to the release. "Area police could do nothing but monitor the situation because he had not yet broken any laws."

Said Stivers, "We have been fortunate that a more serious crime has not been committed against a child and we owe that to the vigilance of parents and the responsiveness of our local police. The state law changes we are proposing will give our local communities the backup they need to help ensure our parks and public areas remain safe for families."

And Hughes, a former assistant county prosecutor, added, "These incidents have sent collective shivers down the spines of central Ohio parents who are rightfully frustrated that there seems to be little area police can do to keep these men away from places where children gather. It is vital that law enforcement have the tools to stay one step ahead so there is never an opportunity for a convicted sex offender to harm a child." ..News Source.. by Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief.