Originally Posted - September 21, 2006

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On Monday, Jeanine Pirro stood on the steps of the State Capitol building and took a strong stand for civil confinement of violent sexual predators amongst other issues. Most media attention seems to focus on her comparison of civil confinement to terrorism as a public safety issue.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060919/NEWS05/609190363/1021

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--pirro-publicsafet0918sep18,0,3286183.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

http://www.amhersttimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2812&Itemid=27

While some ridicule the comparison, reality is the average American is still far more likely to have a predator prey on someone they know than terrorists strike someone they know. Ask a parent who has visited a website that identifies the known convicted predators registered in their community which is the bigger public safety issue facing their family.

Consider the probability that even today more victims do not report their abuse than do. Be conservative and imagine there are only twice as many living in your community. There in no real way to estimate how many predators might pass through our state, because as the 50 states go, we still are more lenient on predators than the many states with a mandatory 25 years to life for crimes that few are likely to serve ten years for here.

Thailand and the Netherlands are amongst the world's most attractive destinations for people to indulge in depraved and degenerate vices because most of the rest of the world is far less tolerant, lenient and accommodating. Let us not allow New York to become to the rest of this country what countries such as Thailand and the Netherlands have become to the rest of the world.

Jeanine Pirro's history of taking such stands is why she has the name recognition to have a fighting chance that few in her party have. Seven weeks is not a lot of time for other Republicans who have quietly fought the same battles unacknowledged and unappreciated, to get known for years of struggle to do what is right for their constituents.

Assembly Republicans especially have a proud story to tell of their struggle against Assembly Speaker Silver and his facilitators on sex offender legislation year after year, it high lights the differences between the two parties, and any candidate who facilitated speaker Silver's obstructionism should be held accountable before their constituents. John Faso led the Assembly opposition to Silver for years. His gubernatorial rival ex-A.G. Spitzer promises to reform state government and to have supported tougher penalties for predators, but he apparently never challenged Silver's obstructing this legislation year after year. The NY Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/nyregion/17spitzer.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin suggest serious reform in the Assembly is not a given.

Rudy Giuliani did not turn around New York City by being timid, turning around years of inertia and mobilizing those who share priorities and value with you will take coordination and maybe the courage the back Jeanine Pirro's stand. Start to expose the differences between candidates. Being honest is making the point that if this legislation becomes an election issue, it will be given far more priority next session so they it need not be an issue next election. Even if it is too late for your campaign, you can still go down fighting this fight to help make New York a safer, better state. 9-21-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette