Close The Cow Gate, Please
As if we needed any additional reminders of what a ridiculously backward state we live in, South Carolina’s do-nothing General Assembly showed its priorities (or lack thereof) one last time this week by overriding Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto of a bill that dramatically reduces the penalty for sexual predators who fail to register with local law enforcement.
Yup, you read that right …
Rep. Joan Brady (RINO-Richland) led the charge to override Sanford’s veto, which makes sense considering that it was Brady who failed to make good on her promises last year to amend this flawed legislation.
“This bill is good for sexual predators who fail to follow the law,” Sanford said in his veto message.
He’s right.
Under the new law, judges are now permitted to release sexual offenders who fail to register with law enforcement, while the stiffest penalty they can impose is a fine of up to $500 or “up to” 30 days in jail.
Prior to Brady’s successful override campaign, the penalty was a mandatory 90-day jail sentence – no ifs, ands or buts.
What does any of this have to do with closing your cow gate?
Glad you asked …
While S.C. lawmakers lacked the political will to close this sex offender loophole (which they knew existed for over a year), they did find the time to dramtically strengthen penalties for farmers who fail to close their cow gates.
That’s right … under the state’s new cow gate law, such negligence is no longer punishable by a mere $5 to $35 fine or the option of up to 30 days in jail.
The new law mandates a fine of $1,000 or a guaranteed 30-day prison term. Or both.
As we say way too often around here, “way to go, S.C. lawmakers.”
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Comments
By Fashizzle on June 17th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I realize sex offenders are an easy target, but hell, a college kid caught streaking or sleeping with his high-school girlfriend ends up on that list. The bill prevents local yokel witch hunts and ensures we have a uniform standard. The 30-day change also gets these cases out of circuit court so they can be heard more quickly.
Sanford’s “sexual predator” comment is exactly the type of fear mongering this bill will keep out of local elections. Seriously, you more than anyone should be sensitive that not all convicts are a threat to society.
By fitsnews on June 17th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
“Fashizzle,”
If lawmakers (and Rep. Brady, in particular) were serious about getting these cases out of circuit court they would have granted magistrates authority to hear first offender failure to register cases.
They failed to do so.
Remember, the legislative branch runs the judicial branch in this state … just like it runs the executive.
-FITS
By Toyota Kawaski on June 18th, 2009 at 8:47 am
we don’t have gates on our farm we use cattle crossings.Fits come on down i have a steaming gift for you and your man partner
By Jonathon on June 18th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Joan Brady, a.k.a. Madam Joker, does nothing but create chaos bills that leave open ended laws and loopholes yet to be patched by her fellow do nothing colleagues. It sounds good and looks good in print, but these bills just create more problems later.