palmettoscoop.com: No sex offenders in state parks?
Registered sex offenders will no longer be allowed to enter South Carolina’s state parks if lawmakers have their way.
State Rep. Chip Limehouse (R-Charleston) offered a bill last week that would ban sex offenders from parks, something he said was a response to the highly-publicized a response to the rape and murder of 17-year-old California girl. Limehouse said park-goers are vulnerable in rural areas where there is little law enforcement. The legislation currently has 39 co-sponsors.
Not only is this a constitutional violation of the rights of citizens, but it is also impossible to enforce. If you live in South Carolina, call this idiot (and the co-sponsors) to tell them to knock it off.
Bill -H. 4774: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/4774.htm
Sponsors: Reps. Limehouse, Brantley, Simrill, Miller, McEachern, Sottile, Vick, Hayes, Knight, H.B. Brown, Hutto, Anthony, Bowen, R.L. Brown, Crawford, Daning, Hamilton, Horne, Jefferson, Littlejohn, Long, Lowe, Mack, Millwood, Mitchell, D.C. Moss, Nanney, Parker, M.A. Pitts, Rice, Sandifer, G.R. Smith, Stringer, Toole, Umphlett, Whipper, Willis, Wylie and A.D. Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\ms\7739ahb10.docx
Bill Text:
"TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 23-3-537 SO TO PROHIBIT A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER FROM ENTERING OR REMAINING IN A STATE PARK OR FACILITY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY; TO AMEND SECTION 51-3-70, RELATING TO RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR STATE PARKS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM TO ESTABLISH POLICIES FOR POSTING INFORMATION REGARDING UNSOLVED ATTACKS THAT OCCUR IN THE STATE PARKS; AND TO AMEND SECTION 51-3-145, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO CERTAIN ACTS WHICH ARE UNLAWFUL AT STATE PARKS, SO AS TO INCLUDE ENTERING A STATE PARK IF THE PERSON IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER. "
