Unbelievable, there still is someone who believes that former sex offenders will LOOK FOR A PLACE where there are MANY CHILDREN, so that s/he may attack them. This bill is proof that, at least this lawmaker, has FAILED to study the evidence of how and where sex crimes are committed. Sex crimes are not committed at these places, at least, not by former offenders, evidence shows when a sex crime is committed at these places, it is by employees who are not on any registry! This lawmakers is on some personal vendetta.4-6-2010 Oklahoma:
A House committee passed a bill Monday that would increase the distance convicted sex offenders must stay away from day care centers, playgrounds, parks and schools.
Senate Bill 2064 would increase the distance from 300 feet to 500 feet.
"These are places where children can readily be found,” said Rep. Randy Terrill, House author of the measure. "I can tell you that as the father of two children, I’ve got a great deal of concern about sex offenders being permitted to be anywhere near them.”
The bill also would require sex offenders who are parents or legal guardians of children in schools or day care centers to inform administrators of their status as registered sex offenders and must give specific times when they will be going to the school or center.
The House Judiciary Committee with little discussion passed SB 2064 by a vote of 9-1. It now goes to the House of Representatives.
Rep. Ryan Kiesel, a committee member and a frequent critic of measures that increase restrictions on where convicted sex offenders may live, was the only one to oppose the measure.
"What we’re trying to do is make it impossible for people to conform to the law and in the process we’re making it impossible for them to have any chance or opportunity to become productive members of society again after they paid their debt to society for the crimes that they’ve committed,” said Kiesel, D-Seminole.
Terrill, R-Moore, said he has little sympathy for convicted sex offenders.
"If we can draw a red line around the entire state of Oklahoma to keep sex offenders out, that would be just fine with me,” said Terrill, who also serves on the Judiciary Committee.
Sex offenders have "a high propensity to re-offend” and their prospects for rehabilitation "are not that great,” he said.
"It’s pretty important that we keep track of these people,” Terrill said. "I also think it’s important that we restrict their freedom of movement particularly in regards to areas where children can readily be found.”
Kiesel said it’s irresponsible for lawmakers to write legislation that would force sex offenders to move out of state.
"It assumes a victim in Texas or a victim in Arkansas is preferable to a victim in Oklahoma,” he said. "That’s not very Oklahoma of us to be that inconsiderate of our neighboring states.” ..Source.. MICHAEL MCNUTT
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