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A DANGEROUS CATCH-AND-RELEASE PROGRAM
Sex offenders are closer than you think
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What happens to convicted sex offenders after they are released? They often move into our communities where, once again, the temptation to harass, molest, rape or even kill the innocent is there.
Civil confinement is something that I have been pushing along with my Assembly Republican colleagues for a long time. It would allow judges to order the most dangerous convicted sex offenders confined to secure mental-health facilities, staffed with professionals, after their release from prison if they are deemed threats to strike again. A similar bill has passed the state Senate several times with bipartisan support, and Gov. George Pataki says he would sign the legislation as soon as it comes across his desk.
Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have similar laws on the books that were challenged and upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Allow me to provide some details. There are sixteen sex offenders living in the city of Canandaigua. Geneva is home to six sex offenders, Seneca Falls hosts four, and Waterloo residents have six living among them. In the five counties that make up the 129th Assembly District, there are 246 registered Level 3 sex offenders.
Every one of these sex offenders has the potential to strike again. They are released without regard to the health and welfare of the innocent people who will be forced to live near them. The one place that dangerous sex offenders should live is in a cell.
As concerned parents and residents, we must protect our children. More than 15,000 New Yorkers statewide have signed a petition calling for enactment of a civil confinement law. The children and women of New York deserve the chance to live without fear of being victims of sex crimes. Bronson Frank will be living only a few miles from the local school. Are we sure he is not a threat?
This is a good bill that we must pass, and as your assemblyman, I pledge to not rest until it is. It is time to call on all legislators to demand that civil confinement legislation be passed into law for the protection of our women and children. This law isn't about politics, it's about protecting lives.
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KOLB RECEIVES 'A' GRADE FROM BUSINESS COUNCIL |
Assemblyman Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) has been awarded a grade of "A" from The Business Council of New York State, Inc. The council grades legislators based on their voting records during each legislative session on business issues in New York.
"I pride myself on fighting for businesses, both large and small, in New York. I know how important they are to our economy and our region, but, most importantly, to our residents and their families. I know taxes in New York are too high and there are too many barriers set up for businesses and entrepreneurs, so I fight to curb those barriers every day," Kolb commented.
The council reached out to legislators across New York early in 2005 to identify topics that its member businesses identified as the most important issues affecting them. The council monitored all legislators throughout the legislative session to determine their votes on the pertinent issues. Legislators are awarded a point for each vote that agrees with the council's position; a point is deducted for each vote not in line with the council's stance. Legislators also can receive negative or positive points when taking an active or leadership role for or against the council's position on issues. Points are calculated after the session ends and are converted into a letter grade.
Kolb concluded, "We've made some real progress in New York this year when it comes to supporting our businesses, although there is still more road to cover. I'll continue to advocate on behalf of New York's businesses - and residents - in the upcoming legislative year."
Assemblyman Kolb was also a prior recipient of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Guardian of Small Business Award.
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