Democratic Representative Michael DeBose and Republican Senator Kevin Coughlin introduced a bill that would require "all habitual and child-oriented sex offender to display easy-to-spot plates." In Ohio sexual predators would be required to have fluorescent green license plates. Ohio actually proposed to require pink plates for sex offenders, but this was not successful. Some states make it mandatory for a designation to be on the sex offenders' license plate, but other than that no state has tried something similar. Some criticize the bill saying children may think that anybody without the special green plates were safe to approach. Others argue the plates would give parents and children the message to beware. The bill is the latest in a series of laws Ohio has passed to prevent sex crimes against children.
The reason I chose this bill was because it seems so wrong for this type of bill to actually become a law. If this bill were to become a law it would probably ruin many people's reputation by being labeled as a sex offender. The sex offenders will face possible discrimination and constantly be judged for their wrong doing. I know sex offenders have committed crimes, but I feel like they deserve a little privacy. What about the other people who have commited crimes and maybe even murdered someone? These people aren't dangerous but sex offenders are? Sometimes there are special license plates to signify that you are part of the government but this label does not necessarily come with the negativity. Having something negative on your license plate seems almost as bad as being labeled "Sex Offender" across your forehead.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
ya,
I think that this bill is pretty stupid. If they accept their punishments and are in the process of starting a new life, with this license plate addition, it wouldn't help them. I like the point that children might think everyone without a "colored" plate is safe.
It is the same thing in the "Scarlet Letter" in that everyone will outcast the individual(s), except the outcasted won't gain their independence.
I saw this documentary once about a teenage boy who downloaded a harmless game, but the game's coding had another feature in it. So this boy unwittingly d/l a child porn site onto his computer. He was caught and pleaded guilty. So he isn't a sex offender, but in the eyes of the state he is.
I agree with both of you that this bill is ridiculous. It will ruin many lives. However, I don't share your sympathies about the people who were actual child predators. If instances such as the one I mentioned never occurs, then I would be for this bill. If I were a parent, I would definitely want this bill. That argument about the "what if they approach a car that doesn't have special plates" is pretty shoddy. The special plates would only make people more aware than they'd normally be.
Why would you care about the rights of someone who doesn't care about the rights of others?
I do not support this bill. Yes it would be safe for everyone to be able to identify a sexual predator but that does not guarantee that people will be safe. This only brings discrimination and more tension from the.Anyone else that does not have this specific license plate may commit a similar offense or something even worse. The sexual predator will also not be stupid enough to carry around their car and use other modes of transportation. This license plate may even motivate them more to continue their sexual offenses and to desire for attention. This is not a great solution to the sexual predators.
Post a Comment