Jeff Lamberti, Co-president of the Iowa Senate (He's co-president because the Iowa Senate is equally split 50 Republicans & 50 Democrats) has proposed new sentencing guidelines for those who sexually abuse children. Under his plan, first time offenders would receive a minimum of 25 years in prison and could be sentenced to life by the judge.
The Des Moines Register reported that Lamberti said, "The message it sends is that the state of Iowa is going to have a zero-tolerance policy for people who prey on young children. We ought not to be giving these people a second chance to abuse children."
This is exactly what I was saying needed to be done especially after the travesty of justice we've recently seen in Vermont. The sexual abuse of children has been tolerated for too long. It has been treated more like a mental illness rather than the horrendous crime it is.
I hope all Iowans will join me in writing to their state Senators and Representatives and encouraging them to support this new legistation. Senators; Representatives
I'm not in Iowa, but I would go a step further: child molestation equals life without parole, no exceptions.
Of course, the definition of child molestation would have to be pretty strict, such as to not include 18 year old men sleeping with 17 year old girlfriends.
Posted by: John | January 27, 2006 at 03:38 PM
Note: The following is an email reply I received from Rep. David Lalk after expressing my concern about Judge Cashman's sentence and the proposed change in Iowa's sex abuser sentencing guidelines. I am posting here with his permission.
Your right - I think that we need some common sense judges in our nation. His ruling was ridiculous. We passed tough legislation last year on sex predators and it looks like what the senate has makes it even tougher. I will be watching for the bill when it comes to the House. I'll try and remember to keep you posted.
Posted by: Rep. David Lalk | February 06, 2006 at 01:55 PM