Letter | HB 6151 changes won’t comfort or protect sexual assault victims

Published 8:30 am Thursday, March 24, 2016

Like Trump, Representative Jay Rodne never seems to surprise me with his political limbo: How low can he go? Just check out HB6151. This bill had strong bipartisan support until it got to Rodne.

Originally the bill was simple enough. In cases of sexual assault, the law imposes a two-year order of protection for the victim. HB6151 would have given judges the discretion to extend the order of protection beyond two years.

During my 34-year career in criminal justice, I have known quite a few rapists and murderers. Believe me, some are much more dangerous than others.

HB6151 would have allowed judges to provide a little more security to some victims. Then comes Rodne to add a poison-pill amendment that says: victims can have longer orders of protection, but only if the sexual predators can petition the court to have their guns rights back.

Will that provide security—or comfort—to victims? The message to sex offenders should be: “If you want your guns, don’t rape anyone!”

Roger Ledbetter

Snoqualmie