Very well written, Ed.

Dear Rep. Maestas,

Your vote against HB-56 demonstrated both political courage and fidelity to constitutional principles and the rule of law.  Kudos.

Few persons acknowledge the ex post facto question when applied to SORNA.  Many take the Supreme Court’s seminal decision in Smith v. Doe as carte blanche to implement virtually any SORNA provisions.  That was not what the Court said, and the edifice is crumbling from many lawsuits.  Fairness aside, the extra expense and squandering of judicial resources are not justified by public safety arguments–none of which were actually articulated by the bill’s sponsors.

I’ve attached my brief analysis of HB-56 which I’ve sent to pertinent senators.  Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail there.  In the spirit of transparency, I am on the SORNA registry for having years ago possessed images of some under the age of 18.  None of the provisions in HB-56 would have an effect on me.  However I, like you, am concerned with principles.

Veritas,
MY REDACTED NAME
Albuquerque, NM

“Upgrading”?

The only upgrade that can be done to the Sex Offense Registries (Hit Lists) is to destroy them in their entirety. That’s the upgrade.

Until that happens, all PFRs should ensure that the Hit Lists are 100% worthless and much worse. The Hit Lists must have consequences. They cannot exist without war. They can only exist at the highest possible cost of time, money, goodwill, respect, progress, peace, and other limited resources. That cost is being paid and there is no doubt it will continue.