Latest stupid law-Visual Sexual Aggression?
Well intended? Surely! But then again so are zero-tolerance rules in our schools. This bill is far too broad, given our compete lack of common sense as a society. Ever stood in line at the grocery store and waved or smiled at a toddler in the cart in front of you? Ever watched kids play? Yeah, you VISUAL SEXUAL HARASSER YOU!
A bill that passed the House last month aims to strengthen the crime of visual sexual aggression against children, according to state Rep. Dawn Hill, D-York.Her involvement started when Ogunquit Police Lt. David Alexander was called to a local beach to deal with a man who appeared to be observing children entering the community bathrooms. Because the state statute prevents arrests for visual sexual aggression of a child in a public place, Alexander said he and his fellow officer could only ask the man to move along.“There was no violation of law that we could enforce. There was nothing we could charge him with,” Alexander said.He attended a talk with Hill a week later and brought the case to her attention. Hill pledged to do what she could, Alexander said, and the result was a change through the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in the House, which made the law applicable in both private and public places….
Under the bill, if someone is arrested for viewing children in a public place, it would be a Class D felony if the child is between 12 to 14 years old and a Class C felony if the child is under 12, according to Alexander.
Hill said she believes the move was necessary to correct what she called a “loophole” in the state’s criminal law statutes.
Think such a law would work? Me neither! How about a law that puts child molesters in jail FOREVER!