Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Soft-On-Crime Va. Democrats’ Offal Proposal

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by

Robin Beres
in , , , , , , ,

by Kerry Dougherty

Oh look. Another garbage bill courtesy of Virginia’s soft-on-crime Democrats!

Want to see what’s coming our way if Dems regain control of the General Assembly and Governor’s Mansion?

Check out SB1080.

Yep, a gaggle of Virginia’s leading lefties pushed a measure that would classify felons younger than 21 as JUVENILES. Virginia law currently calls those criminals older than 18 ADULTS.

Because that’s what they are.

Insane? Yes. But what better way to get felons back on the street quickly than to pretend they’re just naughty kids! Oh, and just think how cool it would be for delinquent 11-year-olds to be housed with 20-year-old criminals in juvenile detention centers. It would be like giving them round-the-clock tutorials on how to become lifelong hairballs.

No, it didn’t pass. This time. Bad bills like this usually take a few tries. This one did get out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, however. Luckily it died in Finance and Appropriations.

Jim Sherlock, writing for Bacon’s Rebellion, has an in-depth look at this bill and the astronomical costs associated with redefining who is a minor.

It’s worth noting that this odious proposal had the support of a gaggle of influential Richmond Democrats who twitch with excitement any time they encounter a bill that favors the felon over public safety.

Who were the bleeding heart senators who voted in the Senate Judiciary Committee to set this steaming piece of excrement loose on the commonwealth?

The usual suspects:

Louise Lucas, naturally; Dick Saslaw, the majority leader of the Senate and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee; Creigh Deeds, who was the Democrat nominee for governor back in 2009; Joe Morrissey, who made history in 2015 as the first member of the General Assembly to commute to the Capitol from a jail cell on work-release; Chap Petersen; John Edwards; Scott Surovell; and the Jennifers: McClellan and Boysko. Jennifer McClellan was just sworn into Congress.

Not to worry. This bad bill will be back next year. And the next.

Only one way to stop it. Vote!

Republished with permission from Kerry: Unemployed and Unedited.

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Comments

30 responses to “Soft-On-Crime Va. Democrats’ Offal Proposal”

  1. James Kiser Avatar
    James Kiser

    Maybe we can import the Gang of youths that trashed the Queens seafood restaurant. They can teach the thugs of VA a thing or two.

  2. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    I am not a proponent of this bill. However, as usual Kerry comes in with a blunderbuss and ignores details and nuance. (Nuance and detail don’t make juicy reading.) I am referring to this statement: “But what better way to get felons back on the street quickly than to pretend they’re just naughty kids?” Even under this proposal, if an over-18 year-old committed a violent felony, he could (and probably would) be tried as an adult. If the felony was something that would get a sentence of only 2 or 3 years, it would probably be a suspended sentence under the current law, especially if it were a first offense. In summary, the proposal would not have resulted in more “felons back on the street”.

  3. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    If someone is old enough to vote, that person is an adult. Period!

    Now if you want to raise the age to vote…

    1. Eric the half a troll Avatar
      Eric the half a troll

      Lower the legal age for alcohol and recreational marijuana…

      1. James McCarthy Avatar
        James McCarthy

        With so much concern expressed by woke conservatives for youth, lower the voting age to 16 in non-federal elections.

        1. WayneS Avatar
          WayneS

          Or limit the franchise to people who actually pay taxes, regardless of age.

          Child actors could vote.
          Donald Trump could not…

          😉

        2. WayneS Avatar
          WayneS

          Or limit the franchise to people who actually pay taxes, regardless of age.

          Child actors could vote.
          Donald Trump could not…

          😉

          1. Nathan Avatar
            Nathan

            Support themselves and pay taxes would work for me.

        3. WayneS Avatar
          WayneS

          Or limit the franchise to people who actually pay taxes, regardless of age.

          Child actors could vote.
          Donald Trump could not…

          😉

          1. James McCarthy Avatar
            James McCarthy

            That would include a number of 16 year olds who work. Does “actually” actually apply only to those who might pay some payroll taxes? Women or men who do not work? Could non-payers opt in by way of a poll tax? DJT is employed paying some taxes (???) as the 2020 President Elect or as President in Exile.

          2. WayneS Avatar
            WayneS

            It was a joke…

        4. James C. Sherlock Avatar
          James C. Sherlock

          You are trying to “transition” the word woke. Sorry. Progressives own it.

      2. Nathan Avatar
        Nathan

        “Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages. The MLDA in the United States is 21 years. However, prior to the enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, the legal age when alcohol could be purchased varied from state to state.”

        “States that increased the legal drinking age to 21 saw a 16% median decline in motor vehicle crashes.”

        https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/minimum-legal-drinking-age.htm

        1. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
          Dick Hall-Sizemore

          You need to be a little more consistent. If 18-20 year olds are too reckless and lack enough judgment to deny them the legal right to buy alcohol, it should follow that that recklessness and lack of judgment should also allow them not to be treated as adults regarding crime.

          1. Nathan Avatar
            Nathan

            Read all my posts again. I am 100 percent consistent.

            We should raise the voting age.

          2. Lefty665 Avatar
            Lefty665

            “We should raise the voting age.”

            Or considering the results of the last several elections lower the maximum age to hold office. Or both.

          3. Nathan Avatar
            Nathan

            It’s the Democrats need to be “a little more consistent.”

            I say voting is for adults. If someone can vote, that person is an adult.

            If the voting age is restored to 21, then there might be a case for saying those 18 – 20 lack judgement. Until then, no way.

            On the other hand, if the legal age for alcohol and recreational marijuana is reduced to 18, then the ensuing disaster will vividly demonstrate the poor judgement of people under 21.

            Rights should come with responsibility. I would raise that age to 21, but provide an exception for those who volunteer to serve in the military.

          4. James McCarthy Avatar
            James McCarthy

            Viewing video interviews of over 21 voters presents some concerns regarding the age qualification to vote. Knowledge and education seem to be more important. Reduce the voting age to 16 for non-federal elections. Adult measure by age is faulty.

          5. Nathan Avatar
            Nathan

            “Adult measure by age is faulty.”

            I agree with that, but we lack any other objective measurement to determine the right to vote.

            Formal education isn’t a panacea either. I’ve worked in Higher Education for over 20 years and found that many of today’s college students are largely adolescents in their judgement.

            Some people with PhDs have no sense whatsoever. My father grew up in the Depression and had to drop out of school after grade school. He called them “educated idiots.”

          6. James McCarthy Avatar
            James McCarthy

            Wisdom is not the equivalent of knowledge or education. Seems to me, on balance (not to disenfranchise any by age) allowing 16 year olds to vote in non-federal elections is as rational as: not having term limits; adults over 18 or 21 who can’t tie shoelaces – are all qualified to express their societal interests thru voting.

          7. James C. Sherlock Avatar
            James C. Sherlock

            But they can have their privates removed by “supportive” surgeons, Dick. Should not that qualify them to hang (excuse the expression) with the adults? The only issue is where they are confined – with the boys or the girls.

  4. Dick Hall-Sizemore Avatar
    Dick Hall-Sizemore

    I am not a proponent of this bill. However, as usual Kerry comes in with a blunderbuss and ignores details and nuance. (Nuance and detail don’t make juicy reading.) I am referring to this statement: “But what better way to get felons back on the street quickly than to pretend they’re just naughty kids?” Even under this proposal, if an over-18 year-old committed a violent felony, he could (and probably would) be tried as an adult. If the felony was something that would get a sentence of only 2 or 3 years, it would probably be a suspended sentence under the current law, especially if it were a first offense. In summary, the proposal would not have resulted in more “felons back on the street”.

    1. James C. Sherlock Avatar
      James C. Sherlock

      Ther is that word again, “probably”, Dick. Define “probably”.

      Let’s you and I try to predict from George Soros’ checkbook stubs who will prosecute and who will let “felons back on the street”.

    2. James C. Sherlock Avatar
      James C. Sherlock

      Ther is that word again, “probably”, Dick. Define “probably”.

      Let’s you and I try to predict from George Soros’ checkbook stubs who will prosecute and who will let “felons back on the street”.

  5. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead

    This is the kind of story that gun store owners love. 93,000 NICS firearm checks so far this year in Virginia. For some odd reason, March is always the gangbusters sale month for firearms.

    1. Nathan Avatar
      Nathan

      Be thankful you don’t live in California.

      “Los Angeles County jury awards $1.5M to prosecutor suing DA George Gascon for retaliation”

      https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-county-jury-awards-1-5m-prosecutor-da-george-gascon-retaliation

    2. Lefty665 Avatar
      Lefty665

      Maybe it’s the groundhog day sales. Like the movie, they repeat, semi automatically…

  6. Randy Huffman Avatar
    Randy Huffman

    As noted by a couple people already, there should generally be consistency with the laws. Not only alcohol or CBD, but who can sign contracts, join the armed services, vote, smoke, gamble, sign medical consents, etc. If you are not able to sign a contract or medical consent, then why should you be able to vote? If you can join the military, why can’t you drink alcohol, gamble and be treated as an adult when you have a run in with the law? This is all nuts.

  7. StarboardLift Avatar
    StarboardLift

    I’ve always thought that taxation should be the condition that links to voting rights.
    What I cannot figure out about SB 1080 is who is served by it? I can usually suss out why Louise Lucas supports what she does. Having trouble following the money.

  8. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    It looks as if Maryland democrats might be trying to “one-up” their counterparts in Virginia. Democrat state legislators there are pushing a bill that would forbid anyone under the age of 25 from being charged with felony murder.

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