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Father of
slain Florida girl travels to Olympia to support bipartisan bill he says
worthy of his daughter's name, 'Jessica's Law Plus'
Mark Lunsford, father of Jessica Lunsford, was in Olympia today
testifying in support of House Bill 2476, titled “Jessica’s Law Plus,”
which is sponsored by Rep. Jan Shabro, R-Lake Tapps and
Rep.
Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe. If passed, HB 2476 would be the toughest
child protection law in the nation.
Mr. Lunsford has traveled throughout the nation advocating for tougher
laws to protect children against sex offenders after his daughter was
kidnapped, brutally raped and murdered by an unregistered sex offender
living near his Florida home.
Mr. Lunsford said he supported HB 2476, Shabro and Pearson’s bill, over
a competing measure, House Bill 2411, because it offers stronger
penalties for sex offenders.
“With all due respect, sir, please do not name your bill after my
daughter” said Lunsford referring to the committee chairman's use of his
daughter’s name as part of his bill title. “If Jessica’s Law Plus had
been in place before my daughter had become a victim, John Couey would
still be in prison and my daughter would still be alive. And the other
children that he assaulted – including his family members – wouldn’t
have to live with the things that they have to live with.”
HB 2476 which was modeled after Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act,
Jessica’s Law as it is commonly called, would strengthen penalties for
sex predators that are known to the victim, create mandatory sentencing
proportionate to the nature of the crime and enact a strict monitoring
system with penalties for sex predators who refuse to register or
register as homeless.
“The time has come to take bold steps to protect our children from
predators who prey on their innocence,” said Shabro. “We heard from
victims and their families today that they want sex predators out of
their neighborhoods, and they want to know their offender will receive a
punishment that fits the crime. Is that too much to ask?
“I believe our bill will better protect the citizens of Washington.
We’ve taken all of the elements of the original Jessica’s Law, but we go
even further to protect children by requiring mandatory sentencing for
sex predators whether they are known or unknown by the victim” said
Shabro. “We don’t think that sex-predators who know the victim should be
treated any different than strangers. The fact is nearly 95 percent of
sex crimes committed against children are committed by someone in a
position of trust and known to the victim.”
Rep. Pearson said, “hearing the testimony today was a reminder of the
emotional devastation left behind when a child is raped, whether by a
stranger, friend or family member, and that their own life sentence of
pain and suffering begins at the tragic moment these heinous crimes are
committed.”
Sadly, it’s a bell that cannot be un-rung for these innocent victims
and, as we heard today, these victims experience a horrifying life event
that truly changes who they are and who they will be,” said Pearson.
Pearson said that elected officials are held accountable for laws that
impact communities – whether good or bad – and that in good conscience,
passing anything less the strictest of penalties for the most predatory
of criminals, child rapists, does a serious disservice to the
communities we live in and serve.
“It’s past time to create sentences and penalties that are in line with
the terrible nature of the crime,” said Pearson. “We heard today of
cases where child sex predators served minimal sentences because they
were a trusted friend or family member. It begs the question, who are we
serving – the criminal or the victim? We have to punish sex predators
whether they are known or unknown to the victim and have sentences that
assure the safety of the victims and our neighborhoods.”
Pearson and Shabro vowed to work with victims, their families and
legislators from both parties to adopt legislation this session that
puts in place penalties that match the violent and devastating nature of
a sex predator’s crime.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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