May 4, 2010

Sex offender public park ban bill goes to governor

Further proof that lawmakers refuse to look at the circumstances of the case they use to support a law. Notice, the man they cite has NEVER BEEN CONVICTED of any sex offense. Accordingly, how can lawmakers use such a case to support this law? Lawmakers make connections that are plain dumb and do not care who they hurt in the process. Also notice the date of the crime they cite: 1960 48 years ago!
5-4-2010 Illinois:

Passed by state lawmakers, legislation that would ban convicted sex offenders from stepping foot in any public Illinois parks now awaits Gov. Pat Quinn's signature.

The legislation, sponsored by State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, prevents all sexual predators and child sex offenders from being in or loitering within 500 feet of a public park.

Illinois currently prohibits sex offenders from being in or loitering within 500 feet of public recreational areas when children are present. The new legislation would keep make it a crime to be near or enter a park at any time.

"Sexual offenders don't need to be hanging around public parks where there are lots of kids and lots of people walking or running alone," Dillard said recently in a press release. "Unfortunately, we've seen some terrible tragedies in public parks. We need to keep these individuals out of areas where there is often limited oversight by law enforcement officers, as well as surroundings that offer seclusion."

In the release, Dillard referred to the March 14, 1960, attack and murder of three Riverside women in Starved Rock State Park, calling the crime a "sexual assault."

Chester Weger (Note: Is this man innocent? [2004 article]) , the man convicted of one of the murders and now serving a life prison sentence, has never been charged or brought to court on any sex offense.

If signed by the governor, the new law would make the violation a Class A misdemeanor and boost any subsequent violation to a Class 4 felony. ..Source.. The Times

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