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Lager wants to keep offenders inside every Oct. 31
Would Halloween become a little less scary for children and their parents if certain criminals were banned from the outdoors?
Sex offenders would turn into shut-ins for the night if legislation an area senator successfully changed Tuesday becomes law.
The Missouri Senate gave first-round approval to a bill that makes sex offenders provide more information to law enforcement for the state registry and ups the charge class for certain crimes against children.
Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, successfully amended the bill Tuesday, adding restrictions to sex offenders’ whereabouts every Halloween.
His amendment requires sex offenders on Oct. 31 to:
* avoid all Halloween-related contact with children.
* remain inside his or her residence between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. unless required to be elsewhere for just cause, including but not limited to employment or medical emergencies.
* post a sign at his or her residence stating, “No candy at this residence.”
* leave all outside residential lighting off during the evening hours after 5 p.m.
Any sex offenders who don’t follow the Halloween rules would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill needs a successful third reading in the Senate before it can move to the House of Representatives.
For more details on the bill itself, look up SB 714 at www.senate.mo.gov.
Sen. John Loudon, R-Chesterfield, is the bill sponsor.
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If we restrict these people, Who will we be restricting next? I know of no outbreak of registered sex offenders causing problems on halloween. If they are on probation, They are restricted already. I have a problem with elected officials who try and pass stupid laws like this one as if it would actually solve the problem. Not all sex offenders reoffend. Not all sex offenders are real pedophiles. A romeo/juilet sex offender isnt a pedophile nor is he/her a threat to children. Not all convicted sex offenders are guilty of the crime accused of. The Innocence Project has cleared many accused/convicted of sex crimes through DNA. Your worried about the sex offender(s) living in your neighborhood, Yet you have no worries about the other dangerous convicted criminals living amoung you. The meth drug dealer has enough chemicals in his house to blow up your whole neighborhood! Senator Loudin only cares about issues that make him look good and keep him in office. Did you notice that he isnt targeting ALL convicted felons in his bill? Why isnt he targeting the drunk drinker? Drunk drivers have killed more innocent people than any sex offender has. Loudin really doesnt care you know.
Posted by 4wildones on March 26, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)Sen. Lager is the one who made these ammendments to this bill not Sen. Loudon. I don't agree with making them stay indoors. Their probation should keep them away from the childrens activities already and I don't have a problem with posting the sign about no candy, and leaving the lights off so Trick-or-Treaters don't stop. It is unfortunate that all on the sex offender list are painted with the same ugly brush but we cannot pick and choose from that list. Of course there needs to be more punishment and monitoring of drunk drivers and drug dealers but we have to start somewhere and if this protects even one child then it is worth it.
Posted by biggieroth on March 26, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)Don't want to be treated as a sex offender? Don't be one.
Posted by rush620 on March 26, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)What I would like to know is who is going to be "riding herd" on all of these "sex offenders" on Halloween? I think the police force has enough to do just trying to keep the drunks off the road.
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