Post by lace on Oct 23, 2006 13:15:36 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Not passed, but at least some people are trying! [/glow]
Maryville motorcyclist pushes for Jessica's Law in Tennessee
October 21, 2006
By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) -- A Maryville motorcyclist is rallying his fellow bikers to push for child safety and tougher penalties against sex offenders.
Mark Norman is leading an effort to pass what's known as Jessica's Law in Tennessee.
The law would require a mandatory 25 year prison sentence for a first-time sex offender whose victim is under 13 years of age.
It would also require sex offenders to wear a GPS tracking device for 35 years after they are released from prison.
The law is named for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was kidnapped from her bedroom in Florida two years ago. After a month-long search, authorities found her body in a shallow grave, covered with leaves. She had been raped and murdered.
Norman says he was touched and horrified after hearing Jessica's story.
"Jessica's Law is not going to stop pedophiles from existing, but it's going to stop same ones from repeatedly offending and hurting these kids," he says.
To spread the word, Norman hopped on to his motorcycle and started riding around the state with dozens of other bikers to get people to sign a petition he can present to Gov. Phil Bredesen.
In 15 days he's logged 3,300 miles and stopped in dozens of little towns.
"I've zig-zagged every little pig path, small town road I could get on," Norman says. "I stopped in towns, restaurants, and just anywhere I stopped for gas, I took the petition in and got it signed."
So far, more than 10,000 people have signed his petition.
Norman has five children of his own. He says he does not understand how laws could be lenient toward convicted sex offenders that target children. "How could a twice convicted sex offender who had raped two little girls already be out on the street to do what he did to that little girl for two days?"
Norman's wife, Latrisha, has also been traveling with him. She says she feels just as strongly he does about protecting children and putting child predators away for a long time. "Everybody has kids. Everybody has nieces, nephews, grandkids. We gotta protect them. If we don't do it who will?"
Norman says he's learned that trying to get a law to pass is not as easy as it seems. He's encountering some challenges.
"I've learned if you're dealing with judges, they don't want to give up the power. Mandatory sentencing tends to take a lot of power away from a judge. I've learned if you're dealing with a politician, all they want to talk to you about is money."
But Norman adds, "You can't put a price tag on a child, an innocent child."
So Norman and his fellow motorcyclists will continue to push for Jessica's Law.
If they get the law passed as it is written, Norman says there is possibility of getting federal funding.
Gov. Bredesen's office has written to Norman telling him the administration has just spent $2 million on GPS tracking devices for sex offenders. The program is in its pilot stages.
Jessica's Law would take that action a step farther. It would mean first-time sex offenders would be locked up for a much longer period of time before the GPS bracelet is strapped on to their ankles.
Norman plans to make an appointment with the governor so he can present the petitions his group has gathered.
[glow=red,2,300]In addition to signing his petition, thousands have logged on to Norman's Web site, nomorechildpredators.org and signed the petition online.[/glow]
[glow=red,2,300]John Couey, a registered sex offender who had already spent time behind bars on charges of molesting children, is now charged with Jessica Lunsford's murder. [/glow]
Authorities say Couey broke into Jessica's home and kidnapped her. In a statement to authorities, Couey reportedly told them he raped Lunsford for two days, then told her to stay in his closet while he went to work. The little girl did not leave the closet in his absence.
Couey was then accused of murdering the girl and burying her body.
The murder of Jessica raised a lot of questions about how sex offenders are tracked and the amount of time they spend behind bars for their crimes.
National statistics indicate of about 400,000 registered sex offenders, 80,000 to 100,000 are reported missing. Nobody knows where they are.
[glow=red,2,300]In light of Jessica's death, 40 states have passed laws that would require stronger tracking of sex offenders with stiffer sentences. [/glow]
www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=5571754&nav=0RYv
Maryville motorcyclist pushes for Jessica's Law in Tennessee
October 21, 2006
By SONU WASU
6 News Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) -- A Maryville motorcyclist is rallying his fellow bikers to push for child safety and tougher penalties against sex offenders.
Mark Norman is leading an effort to pass what's known as Jessica's Law in Tennessee.
The law would require a mandatory 25 year prison sentence for a first-time sex offender whose victim is under 13 years of age.
It would also require sex offenders to wear a GPS tracking device for 35 years after they are released from prison.
The law is named for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was kidnapped from her bedroom in Florida two years ago. After a month-long search, authorities found her body in a shallow grave, covered with leaves. She had been raped and murdered.
Norman says he was touched and horrified after hearing Jessica's story.
"Jessica's Law is not going to stop pedophiles from existing, but it's going to stop same ones from repeatedly offending and hurting these kids," he says.
To spread the word, Norman hopped on to his motorcycle and started riding around the state with dozens of other bikers to get people to sign a petition he can present to Gov. Phil Bredesen.
In 15 days he's logged 3,300 miles and stopped in dozens of little towns.
"I've zig-zagged every little pig path, small town road I could get on," Norman says. "I stopped in towns, restaurants, and just anywhere I stopped for gas, I took the petition in and got it signed."
So far, more than 10,000 people have signed his petition.
Norman has five children of his own. He says he does not understand how laws could be lenient toward convicted sex offenders that target children. "How could a twice convicted sex offender who had raped two little girls already be out on the street to do what he did to that little girl for two days?"
Norman's wife, Latrisha, has also been traveling with him. She says she feels just as strongly he does about protecting children and putting child predators away for a long time. "Everybody has kids. Everybody has nieces, nephews, grandkids. We gotta protect them. If we don't do it who will?"
Norman says he's learned that trying to get a law to pass is not as easy as it seems. He's encountering some challenges.
"I've learned if you're dealing with judges, they don't want to give up the power. Mandatory sentencing tends to take a lot of power away from a judge. I've learned if you're dealing with a politician, all they want to talk to you about is money."
But Norman adds, "You can't put a price tag on a child, an innocent child."
So Norman and his fellow motorcyclists will continue to push for Jessica's Law.
If they get the law passed as it is written, Norman says there is possibility of getting federal funding.
Gov. Bredesen's office has written to Norman telling him the administration has just spent $2 million on GPS tracking devices for sex offenders. The program is in its pilot stages.
Jessica's Law would take that action a step farther. It would mean first-time sex offenders would be locked up for a much longer period of time before the GPS bracelet is strapped on to their ankles.
Norman plans to make an appointment with the governor so he can present the petitions his group has gathered.
[glow=red,2,300]In addition to signing his petition, thousands have logged on to Norman's Web site, nomorechildpredators.org and signed the petition online.[/glow]
[glow=red,2,300]John Couey, a registered sex offender who had already spent time behind bars on charges of molesting children, is now charged with Jessica Lunsford's murder. [/glow]
Authorities say Couey broke into Jessica's home and kidnapped her. In a statement to authorities, Couey reportedly told them he raped Lunsford for two days, then told her to stay in his closet while he went to work. The little girl did not leave the closet in his absence.
Couey was then accused of murdering the girl and burying her body.
The murder of Jessica raised a lot of questions about how sex offenders are tracked and the amount of time they spend behind bars for their crimes.
National statistics indicate of about 400,000 registered sex offenders, 80,000 to 100,000 are reported missing. Nobody knows where they are.
[glow=red,2,300]In light of Jessica's death, 40 states have passed laws that would require stronger tracking of sex offenders with stiffer sentences. [/glow]
www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=5571754&nav=0RYv