Jessica's Law in NC
This past year, a coalition formed taking a non-political stand, because it was the division of politics that was holding up this bill. The coalition called, “Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina” was a response to the apathetic lawmakers, who were dithering about Jessica’s Law, rather than making a solid difference toward protecting our children. Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina issued warrants for Judiciary II Committee, Sub- Committee, and Speaker of the House well as other members of North Carolina House. It was for people to call our representatives on both sides and urge them to do right thing and pass HB 933, the Jessica Lunsford Act.
On Tuesday, April 24, 2007 the Judiciary II Committee met, led by Representative Dan Blue (D-Wake County) and he sent HB 933, the Jessica Lunsford Act to a sub-committee. The reason given was this eleven paged bill was too long to read; and various committee members had trouble with it. This was a way the bill could be taken apart and weakened or worse get buried, once again.
The next day was Legislation Day and Mark Lunsford was present for a press conference to urge lawmakers, to pass a bill for stronger laws against sex offenders. Mark Lunsford is the father of Jessica Lunsford who was raped and murdered. In the memory of Mark Lunsford’s daughter Jessica, a law had been introduced to enforce stricter laws pertaining to sex offenders called it was called, Jessica’s Law.
Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina trying to be positive and cautiously optimistic, in hopes that the Judiciary II Sub-Committee will do the right thing by moving forward with HB 933, the Jessica Lunsford Act, at their meeting Thursday, June 14, 2007.
Representative Tim Moore (R- Cleveland) has been fighting to get HB 933 heard before a sub-committee. This has been due to Representative Chairman Dan Blue dragging his feet about the bill. Chairman Dan Blue assigned HB 933 to a sub-committee April 24, 2007, due to the length of bill. Interesting, many other bills that had basic same amount of length had not met with same difficulty.
Since the sub-committee meeting, it was felt that HB 933 Jessica Lunsford Act is too costly. Again, our legislatives want to put a price tag on welfare of our children. Funny those other states Maryland, Tennessee, Texas seem not have that problem. For some reason North Carolina does with our children’s welfare.
Still, it has been over three years and our lawmakers have not done anything but act busy as this bill and others languished in committee. For the sake of our children, North Carolina needs to get tough on Sex Offenders and pass Jessica’s Law before it is too late. The more delays, the more children fall through the cracks and become victims.
Presently our state lawmakers are inconclusive towards Jessica's Law. If our lawmakers would take the following steps this would be step in right direction.
1.) North Carolina Lawmakers need to take a stand and apply the needed differences have Jessica’s Law by passing HB 933 Jessica Lunsford Act. This would supply the foundation that our state requires. Legislators should not question any funding for HB 933, since their are numerous government and private funding available. What would make the most sense that parolee’s pay cost and save tax money.
2.) North Carolina Lawmakers should take advantage of the Adam Walsh Act and use the monetary bonus payment available to those states complying with the act sooner than its three-year timeline. Rather than a 10 percent reduction in Justice Assistance Grants and certain reductions of Sex Offender Management Assistance Program monies for those states that do not comply with Adam Walsh Act.
"We should all work together to make sure that Jessica's Law is passed in all fifty states. There are presently 15 states that have not yet passed any form of Jessica's Law, it saddens me to think that my home state of Tennessee and North Carolina where I grew up is included in the list of states that have not passed Jessica's Law. I do not know why, but I intend to find out." God Bless, Charlie Daniels
Since Charlie Daniels made this statement, laws have become stricter in Tennessee for sex offenders. Tennessee now has a version of Jessica's Law. North Carolina is one of the 11 states that has not step up to the plate for Jessica's Law and our representatives are inconclusive, as to what they are doing to make this law a reality.
Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina will not rest till North Carolina has passed Jessica’s Law.
Jessica’s Law Now North Carolina
www.jessicaslawnownc.org
Comments
Posted by: Angel at June 21, 2007 01:41 PM (uP4QB)
It wouldn't cost too much for a Jessica's law to be enacted; and like you said, why question ANY cost to it?
Posted by: Raven at June 21, 2007 10:36 PM (9AGmR)
Posted by: Ogre at June 22, 2007 01:25 PM (oifEm)
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