TX: Horrible new law in Texas City
The Gonzales City Council approved an ordinance at Tuesday night’s regular monthly meeting requiring registered sex offenders within the city limits to post signs in their yard alerting everyone to their crime. Though councilmen were quick to move forward with the motion, it took several more minutes to explain what the law could actually do.
City Manager Allen Barnes started by stating that several cities in the area have passed similar ordinances and said the law has been upheld by the courts. The ordinance would require registered sex offenders to place a permanent sign in their yard, measuring two feet tall and two feet wide, with black lettering stating, “A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER LIVES HERE.”
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The motion to accept the ordinance was made by District 2 Councilman Tommy Schurig and seconded by District 4 Councilman Clarence Opiela. But before they could vote, a few questions were raised about how the law would work.
District 3 Councilman Lorenzo Hernandez asked Barnes a hypothetical question, like what would happen if a registered sex offender were to live next to a new park — such as a skate park — and families chose to no longer visit the area because of that. Barnes said that current laws state that sex offenders cannot live within 1,000 feet of a place where children generally congregate, such as a park. He also said that not all sex offenders are made alike. Some, for instance, have waivers and would not have to post the signs.
District 1 Councilman Gary Schroeder asked how the city could get offenders to comply with the law. As Barnes mentioned earlier in his remarks, 24 sex offenders live in Gonzales’ ZIP code. This is where City Attorney Jackie Williamson interjected a bit of reality into the proceedings.
Williamson explained that if the law were to go into effect today, that it is not retroactive and that the current offenders would not have to post a sign if they stayed put at their current residence. The only offenders that would be required to post a sign would be new offenders, sexual offenders that move into the city or if an existing offender were to move to another permanent location within the city.
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I know this is just another example of “who’s doing more damage” but we do expose a lot of this type thing through FAC posts:
Oregon sheriff’s corporal charged with coercing sex from colleague
http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-sheriffs-corporal-charged-coercing-sex-colleague-043431254.html
Perhaps there should be signs posted outside Police residences… They seem to be more of a danger to the community than we are!
Why are these people put in jail, isn’t that the price they paid for their crimes? If they are not ok to be on the streets then why let them out!?! This is just stupid!!
So it does not sound like any discussion was had about the true need for such a violation of human dignity and civil rights – just do it …our country is getting very scary to say the least …
It far to simple for elected officials to go with such decisions without any true argument. This is just another example of inflamed fear. The example that this has exceptions is a joke to intelligence. How can they say that it is not retroactive and will not apply to those currently on the list who live in zones. When it is said that it would affect them that relocate. Do they really think that they are being fair about freedom.