stjoenews.net | Comments by Rockchalk

According to the CDC, automobile/pedestrian accidents "accounted for approximately 15% of all motor-vehicle-related deaths sustained by children aged 0-19 years in the United States. Because of the levels of participation in Halloween-related activities by elementary and middle school-aged children, these children might be more likely to sustain pedestrian injuries on that evening than on other evenings..."

Given these statistics, maybe there needs to be a law that anyone convicted of, or pleading guilty/no contest to, a traffic violation should be prohibited from driving on Halloween.

Come on lawmakers, jump on the bandwagon. After all, it's for the children.

On Police check in on sex offenders on Halloween

Posted on November 2, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dale--you accuse those of us who disagree with this type of law of having a "typical liberal philosophy". I won't be so presumptive as to speak for anyone else, but I have a Libertarian philosophy (or what some consider a "classical liberal" philosophy--before the right corrupted the word "liberal"). I am a strong believer in civil rights and civil liberties; thus I am opposed to any law that interferes with those rights/liberties unless there is some compelling governmental interest. This law is a good example of one that infringes on an individual's rights without addressing a compelling government interest.

This law essentially placed a group of individuals under house arrest without due process. These laws and other similar statutes have imposed additional penalties on these individuals after they have completed their sentences--again a violation of due process.

Your idea of "isolating child predators" has been tried in some states. They have passed laws (again after these people have completed their sentences) limiting the distance where these people may reside in relation to schools, parks, churches, etc. What happens is that there is literally nowhere that these people can live.

If politicians want to increase penalties for these offenders, I have no problem with that. However, changing the rules after the fact is wrong; even if it is "for the children".

On Police check in on sex offenders on Halloween

Posted on November 2, 2008 at 12:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

MichaelH--You are absolutely right! This law, much like the drug laws, makes politicians look like they are doing something. It's easy to pass these kinds of laws because no one wants to appear like they support "sex offenders" or "drug offenders". However they accomplish nothing because there is no problem to begin with. As you point out, there has never been a documented case of molestation or abduction while trick-or-treating.

The only thing this law and others like it does is make these people easy targets for vigilantes. While there have been no incidents of molestation or abduction while trick-or-treating, there are numerous cases where persons listed on "Megan's Law" databases have been targeted--even so far as being killed.

I find it sad that so many people posting here appear to live in constant fear. I note many of those supporting this law have posted in support of McCain because of his fearmongering.

On Police check in on sex offenders on Halloween

Posted on October 25, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

People hired by ACORN falsified registration forms in order to get paid. That's the way most of these operations work--pay per signature. Therefore, the more "registrations" turned in, the more the person makes. ACORN is required by law to submit all forms whether they are obviously fake or not. However, just because an invalid registration form is turned in does not equate to voter fraud. Let's face it "Mickey Mouse" is not showing up to the polls to vote. And ACORN raised the issue itself.

But, problems with voter registration is not limited to democrats. The McCain-Palin campaign helped finance a group called Lincoln Strategy for the purpose of registering voters. That group has been involved in "slamming" voters (i.e. tricking registrants into registering for the Republican Party) but also tearing up Democratic registrations in several states.

Another group supported by the McCain campaign is Young Political Majors, whose owner was arrested in California for voter fraud and registration fraud.

Even with these issues, the fact is that voter fraud is very rare. Since 2002, there have only been 24 convictions for voter fraud. Of that number, only 5 involved "multiple voting". The balance were non-citizens and/or felons attempting to vote. (These stats are from the Bush Justice Dept.)

On Your letters, Oct. 25, 2008

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rax--you're right it is not hard to get a copy of a birth certificate. However, in order for the state to issue the certificate, there must be a record on file. Obviously, the state of Hawaii has a record of Obama's birth or it would not have been able to issue the document that I linked to.

On It's Your Call, October 23, 2008

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The best thing about this is going to be the free Dr. Pepper!

On Guns N' Roses finally go "Chinese"

Posted on October 23, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For all of you concerned with whether or not Obama was born in Hawaii, see the following links which show the certified copy of his birth certificate, including the offical State Seal and certification by the State Dept. of Health.

http://www.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/b...

On It's Your Call, October 23, 2008

Posted on October 22, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW!! It looks like support for the Democrats has spread to the McCain camp. Apparently they forgot to send someone with Palin when she was spending that $150,000 on clothes.

http://nynerd.com/wp-content/uploads/200...

On It's Your Call, Oct. 22, 2008

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