Sex offenders...
I second today's Advocate editorial regarding the mistakes of the new sex-offender regulations. They just don't make sense, and particularly so when compared to the ways in which other types of convicted evil-doers - drug dealers and killers, for instance - are set free after serving their time.
Good job, Advocate. Read it here.
Cell phones ...
Consumer Union is making it really easy for citizens to speak out for regulation of the cell phone industry. I used the form they e-mailed me to encourage meaningful federal legislation.
CU sent a follow-up e-mail, encouraging me to spread the word. Here's what the e-mail said:
"Pass the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007
"The cell phone industry doesn't like real competition--so it produces phones we can only use with a particular company, contracts that lock us in with early termination fees, and more. I just took a moment to help turn it around. After FCC investigations last fall and pro-consumer standards passed in some leading states, Congress is finally stepping in to improve the market for all of us.
"I just took two minutes to tell my lawmakers the most important changes I want to see, and I hope you will too. It will take support from tens of thousands of regular people like us to offset the power of a well funded corporate lobby, but Consumers Union -- the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports and a cell phone reform proponent -- has a great track record getting things done. Click here to join me in action."
18th Congressional renewal plan ...
Zack Space is launching "Renew Ohio 18," a long-term game plan to revitalize Southeaster Ohio's economy. Read it here.
Showing posts with label murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label murder. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2008
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Timidity is the ally of criminals
Residents at 28 Bowers Avenue in Newark were causing a problem to neighbors long before two of those who lived or visited there were accused of murdering a pizza delivery man.
A report in the Sunday Advocate said neighbors had become "victims of theft, vandalism and robbery, which they blame on the newcomers."
Calls had been made to police regarding thefts and vandalism, but police never showed up because the callers didn't want to file a report.
Maybe they were afraid of retaliation, but timidity never won any battles or a modicum of personal safety.
Timidity is the ally of criminals and bullies of all stripes, and that's what went wrong here. You can't expect the police to get excited about a few calls unless it's serious enough for someone to file a report.
As was suggested in one of the comments to the Advocate report, neighbors should have made a show of force. They should have held a meeting on a front porch, formed a neighborhood watch group, visited the police station, talked with their councilman.
People have to stop relying on government to take care of every little bump in the road. People have to get off their butts and take control of their own lives and problems. It would be cheaper, better, and more self-satisfying.
A report in the Sunday Advocate said neighbors had become "victims of theft, vandalism and robbery, which they blame on the newcomers."
Calls had been made to police regarding thefts and vandalism, but police never showed up because the callers didn't want to file a report.
Maybe they were afraid of retaliation, but timidity never won any battles or a modicum of personal safety.
Timidity is the ally of criminals and bullies of all stripes, and that's what went wrong here. You can't expect the police to get excited about a few calls unless it's serious enough for someone to file a report.
As was suggested in one of the comments to the Advocate report, neighbors should have made a show of force. They should have held a meeting on a front porch, formed a neighborhood watch group, visited the police station, talked with their councilman.
People have to stop relying on government to take care of every little bump in the road. People have to get off their butts and take control of their own lives and problems. It would be cheaper, better, and more self-satisfying.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Another absent "killer" charged
There is a very twisted law in Ohio that has allowed a bystander to be charged with murder, though the killing was done by a sheriff's deputy. That happened in Muskingum County early this year and I wrote about it February 9, 2007.
Even bank robbers, I said, deserve protection from runaway prosecutors, such as the one in that case who said, according to the news reporter, "a person who causes the death of another as a proximate result of committing a felony can be charged with murder."
As I said then, we have a very bad law if a murder charge can be brought against someone other than the triggerman.
A few days ago there was another news report from Gallipolis, Ohio that tells of a probation officer who jumped in the Ohio River in pursuit of a suspect/fugitive and drowned himself.
In the eyes of this incredible Ohio law, the man who fled is now charged with involuntary manslaughter because his actions put a public official at risk, according to the zealous Gallia County Prosecutor Jeff Adkins. The accused could get three to ten years imprisonment.
"Because of actions that put a public official at risk" is something invented by the Gestapo-like mentality. Think of the implications. Anyone of us might inadvertently "put a public official at risk."
The law is bad, dumb, unfair, and needs to be undone with all possible haste.
Even bank robbers, I said, deserve protection from runaway prosecutors, such as the one in that case who said, according to the news reporter, "a person who causes the death of another as a proximate result of committing a felony can be charged with murder."
As I said then, we have a very bad law if a murder charge can be brought against someone other than the triggerman.
A few days ago there was another news report from Gallipolis, Ohio that tells of a probation officer who jumped in the Ohio River in pursuit of a suspect/fugitive and drowned himself.
In the eyes of this incredible Ohio law, the man who fled is now charged with involuntary manslaughter because his actions put a public official at risk, according to the zealous Gallia County Prosecutor Jeff Adkins. The accused could get three to ten years imprisonment.
"Because of actions that put a public official at risk" is something invented by the Gestapo-like mentality. Think of the implications. Anyone of us might inadvertently "put a public official at risk."
The law is bad, dumb, unfair, and needs to be undone with all possible haste.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Where robbing a bank equates with murder
Two guys robbed a bank in Dillon Falls. Muskingum County deputies chase the van they were driving to Mount Sterling. One guy jumps out and fires at deputies, who shoot and kill him. The other guy gives up without any problems.
Lucky him. He gets charged with the murder of the guy deputies killed. Muskingum County Prosecutor Michael Haddox said, according to the news report, that "a person who causes the death of another as a proximate result of committing a felony can be charged with murder." (quoting the reporter)
If Haddox is accurate and this news report is accurate, then we have a problem. Not just in Zanesville, but in Ohio. We have a very bad law if a murder charge can be brought against someone other than the triggerman.
Whether it can or not, citizens, even bank robbers, deserve protection from runaway prosecutors, and that could be the problem here. There ought to be a law, if there isn't one already, to punish negligent office holders. This might be a case similar to the one involving college soccer team members getting drug through hell on earth by some irresponsible prosecutor who is grandstanding for votes or for some reason other than accurate law enforcement. This kind of prosecutor should at the very least be cast from office and we need a very bold law that says so.
I'm not saying that's the case in Zanesville. But this is too weird to be believed, knowing no more about it than the facts of one newspaper article. Maybe something else influenced the prosecutor's charge. So it bears watching; there's something wrong with the law or the way it was applied or the way it was reported. Whatever and whomever need to be corrected.
Lucky him. He gets charged with the murder of the guy deputies killed. Muskingum County Prosecutor Michael Haddox said, according to the news report, that "a person who causes the death of another as a proximate result of committing a felony can be charged with murder." (quoting the reporter)
If Haddox is accurate and this news report is accurate, then we have a problem. Not just in Zanesville, but in Ohio. We have a very bad law if a murder charge can be brought against someone other than the triggerman.
Whether it can or not, citizens, even bank robbers, deserve protection from runaway prosecutors, and that could be the problem here. There ought to be a law, if there isn't one already, to punish negligent office holders. This might be a case similar to the one involving college soccer team members getting drug through hell on earth by some irresponsible prosecutor who is grandstanding for votes or for some reason other than accurate law enforcement. This kind of prosecutor should at the very least be cast from office and we need a very bold law that says so.
I'm not saying that's the case in Zanesville. But this is too weird to be believed, knowing no more about it than the facts of one newspaper article. Maybe something else influenced the prosecutor's charge. So it bears watching; there's something wrong with the law or the way it was applied or the way it was reported. Whatever and whomever need to be corrected.
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