Thread: Gov. Rick Snyder Of Michigan Changes Sex Offender Laws

Originally Posted by Steve

Nothing in the law permits that...

I didn't say it did.

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

Basically, it comes down to prejudiced parents and prejudiced cops.

Kind of sad, really...

I wonder if other countries like Canada are more reasonable about this sort of thing.

IMO, I give Canada mixed marks on this subject. It gets a good mark from me on the age of consent statute and absolutely horrific marks from me on handling genuine sex offenders, so much so that they even endanger the US and other nations.

Canada's law is as follows insofar as age of consent rules:

Age of consent reform in Canada refers to cultural and legal discussions in Canada regarding the age of consent. The age of consent in Canada was raised from 14 to 16 in May 2008.[1]

In June 2006, the Canadian government proposed a bill to raise the age of consent from 14 to 16, while creating a near-age exemption for sex between 14-15 year olds and partners up to 5 years older, and keeping an existing near-age clause for sex between 12-13 year olds and partners up to 2 years older. The initiative also maintains a temporary exception for already existing marriages of 14 and 15 year olds, but forbids new marriages like these in the future.[2]

Age of consent reform in Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As you can see, it is 16 years old and has a 'Romeo and Juliet' provision in it. That's sensible IMO.

On the other hand, IMO Canada lags way behind the US on handling genuine sex offenders with the seriousness they deserve. They do have a National Sex Offender Registry:

National Sex Offender Registry

However, it is not publicly available like Megan's Law is in the US and it has loads of loopholes and infirmities in it. IMO, this Canadian gives a very good informative rant about how Canada fails compares to the US on this topic:

YouTube - SEX Offenders in Canada are your NEIGHBOURS!!

I even raised a very serious complaint myself here concerning an internationally infamous sociopathic murdering sex offender, Karla Homolka, getting an 'automatic' pardon:

Karla Homolka Due for Pardon

As you can see, IMO it's more than just a Canadian concern--it's an international concern as referenced therein by her travelling abilities. Another example will suffice of an infamous pardoned sex offender there:

Pardoned sex offender found living in Mexico
Published On Thu May 13 2010

Sex offender and former hockey coach Graham James is living in Mexico, apparently unremorseful for his crimes.

James, tracked down by the CBC, had nothing to say about his controversial 2007 pardon, which shocked the country when it recently came to light and caused the Canadian government to introduce a new bill aimed at toughening rules on pardons. Nor did he have anything to say about fresh allegations of sex abuse from former NHL star Theoren Fleury.

. . .

. . . because of the Canadian pardon, there is no official means for Mexican authorities to learn of James's criminal history. . . .

Pardoned sex offender found living in Mexico - thestar.com

Getting a pardon in Canada is pretty much an entitlement after just 5 years of arrest-free behaviour (meaning you didn't get caught):

Sex offenders pardoned almost as often as other criminals
DANIEL LEBLANC
Ottawa— From Friday's Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Apr. 08, 2010 7:14PM EDT
Last updated Wednesday, May. 12, 2010 10:39AM EDT

Nearly all the sex offenders who apply for pardons in Canada successfully wipe out their criminal records from public view, despite the Conservative government’s promise four years ago to make the system tougher.

. . .

Sex offenders pardoned almost as often as other criminals - The Globe and Mail

Ontario’s sex offender registry has another shocking loophole
Pardoned sex offenders are automatically erased from the database
by Michael Friscolanti on Thursday, April 22, 2010 7:49am - 43 Comments

Bill Herriot/ The Calgary Herald/ CP

Wherever he’s hiding these days, serial molester Graham James is surely reading about himself in the headlines, no doubt furious his predatory past is once again front-page news. The latest revelation—that the National Parole Board quietly pardoned the notorious pedophile hockey coach three years ago—has triggered as much outrage as the original charges, and exposed a long list of confusing truths about how our criminal justice system deals with dangerous sex offenders.

Thanks to Graham James, Canadians now know just how simple it is for a man who preys on teenage boys to have his criminal record wiped clean. Over the past two years, 1,554 sex offenders applied for a pardon; only 41 were rejected. Thanks to Graham James, Canadians also now know that a standard criminal background check doesn’t disclose the fact that a potential volunteer might be a pardoned predator. . . .

Ontario's sex offender registry has another shocking loophole - Canada - Macleans.ca

Calls for public notification and especially changing the pardon situation for sex offenders are big topics there, but that's the abysmal situation as it stands.

Originally Posted by Occam's Razor

Wow... I'm impressed. Two Republicans supported this. I figured Democrats would be more likely to support the liberalization of sex laws.

I would agree that this sort of change has long been needed in our system.

We still have a lot of room for improvement, but this is a very positive first step.

It is a positive first step, regardless of motivation. Our archaic paranoia and Puritanical "sex is dirty" laws will have to be examined at some point. Sex offender registries may have their place, but they are abused profit-making machines for mental health agencies, so they have the wrong kinds of friends in the legislatures across the country.

Originally Posted by O'Sullivan Bere

IMO, I give Canada mixed marks on this subject. It gets a good mark from me on the age of consent statute and absolutely horrific marks from me on handling genuine sex offenders, so much so that they even endanger the US and other nations.

Wow... so we're one extreme, and they're the other.

Why is implementing common sense so difficult?

Originally Posted by Forplay

I didn't say it did.

Then what point were you trying to make?

Why is implementing common sense so difficult?

Being right is serious business in America. Being right is sometimes the only thing that matters.

Originally Posted by Forplay

So a boy who is 18 and fucks a 10 yr old girl and they both say it was completely consensual that's OK with you. And this is your 10 yr daughter.

I guess it was only a matter of time for the ignorant hyperbole card to be played. Are you not capable of reading?