Last September Logan Goodall, a 2-year-old child, was sexually assaulted then beaten in the head and abdomen until he died in his home in Kanawha County. Ever since that time a band of mothers who do not want to bury their children have lobbied the legislature for stiffer penalties against sexual offenders. The result is a bill called “Logan’s Law.”
Logan’s Law increases the prison sentences to 25-years-to-life for anyone that molests a child younger than 12-years-old. The bill also requires mandatory prosecution of aggravated and second-degree child sexual and-or physical assault with no plea bargains allowed and life in prison for sexual and/or physical assault of a child resulting in death.
Once a violent sexual predator is released, they are required to reregister with the State Police in their home county every six months as well as wear a GPS tracking device. Violent sexual predators cannot live within 1,000 ft. of a school or preschool.
Little Logan was sexually assaulted in Kanawha County where over 200 sexual predators live. Knowing this, Senator Vic Sprouse (R-Kanawha) moved to amend the governor’s pathetically weak sexual predator bill with Logan’s Law and the amendment passed with only four votes against.
Who were some of the ones against the bill? Logan Goodall’s two Democrat senators: Senators McCabe (D-Kanawha) and Foster (D-Kanawha). Yes, the men who were elected to keep society safe, in the face of this heinous act in their own county, were entirely unmoved. They apparently did not care if a sexual predator lives near a school. They did not care that the State Police cannot keep track of these violent criminals. They did not care that the current penalties are weak and fosters reoffenders. This was not enough to persuade. They voted “no” anyway.
If a little, innocent constituent, murdered less than 6 months ago is not compelling enough for Senators Foster and McCabe to vote “yes,” one has to wonder what is? How much closer to home can it get?
Senator McCabe’s vote against Logan’s Law reminds me of something he said on the floor of the Senate during the session last year. The legislature was debating a bill that would have provided less money to Kanawha County for the 911 center, but would have cost Kanawha county more in additional fees. The Senator stood and said in essence, “I know this hurts Kanawha County, but I am going to vote for it anyway.”
We need representatives that will look out for each of us – young and old.
Senator McCabe is running for reelection this year. Young Logan will never grow old enough to vote. Remember this when November comes and cast the vote against McCabe that Logan Goodall will never make.
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© Copyright 1999-2007 William Stewart. All rights reserved.
Comments
Way to call ‘em out, Will!
I cant believe these two Senators wouldn’t vote for this bill… especially after it happened in their own county.
Poor poor Logan… an innocent life taken away.
Of course, leave it to Governor Manchin to come up with a worthless, watered-down bill and try to add his “trust me” spin to it.
For your readers in Northern West Virginia, Monongalia County’s own Senator Jon Blair Hunter voted against this bill as well…..I have a feeling the people will be reminded of this in 2008.
Dang, I see your point, though I’m curious as to why they voted against. Who knows, they might have had a good reason.
[…] 3) Sens. McCabe (D-Kanawha) and Foster (D-Kanawha) vote NO on tougher penalities for violent sexual predators. http://williamstewart.org/2006/politics/mccabe-and-foster-vote-no-on-tougher-penalties-for-violent-sexual-predators/ Will Stewart had a nice write-up on how far left the WV Democratic Party is leaning. Sen. McCabe gets the “Foot-in-mouth” Award this week for his quote: “I know this hurts Kanawha County, but I am going to vote for it anyway.” Somebody tell me why this bum is still in office??? Oh wait, it’s because he’s a Democrat. If you have a “D” beside your name here in WV, you are practically invinsible (with a few exceptions, of course.) […]
i think that all sex affenders should be left to rott in prison i mean that kid was only 2 years old and had to suffer a painful death if that was my kid the guy that did it would be suffering right now cause i would make him go through the same pain that my son or daughter went through cause no kid should have to go through something like that.
I don’t understand how anyone could vote no to that, i think sex offenders deserve more than that. That poor little kid couldn’t even save himself or let anyone know what was going on he was only two years old. What is wrong with our country today? Why aren’t we punishing these sick people to where they will never do it again or beable to do it again. If you ask me that would be the least we could do and I think if anyone thinks different they are probally just as sick as those people.
This really makes me sick. I can’t believe these two politicians would vote against Logan’s Law. It makes you wonder what type of person they are. It seems they just want the money, but not to do their job. It is way past time we help out the little children, because they are vulnerable, and if McCABE AND FOSTER can’t do this, they need to simply step down and let a real man or woman in there to do the job.
I don’t think it’s right to have to pay to find out who’s a sex affender in my area!!!
If I wanted to know everywhere it would be diferant.
that is a shame that they didnt pass that bill i have a four year old son and his mommy left me for a registered sex affender that man got her hooked on meth where now she thinks that man didnt do no wrong the court order states that my boy goes know where near him but she lives with him and her parents lie for her my son tells me that he stays there and he even told me that mommy makes me sleep in the middle of them that made me so mad i called her and told her off she said my son was a lair its so hard to sleep when i dont get to see my boy she even tried to talk me in to sign a paper that i allow that man to be around my son she is crazy she got so mad at me that she wouldnt even let me talk to my son on the phone
I believe that the devient-murderer of Logan Goodall should receive the death penalty. Any law maker who does not support severe laws against sexual abuse of children should be put out of office in the next election
maybe you should the senate the autopsy photos of logan goodall if that doesnt reach them nothing will. it’s our job to protect the children there the only innocent thing we have left.. step up fight for a real cause for a change…
does anyone else think when you go to the pedifile web page that instead of names(which if we knew, we wouldn’t need the page ) that a photo gallery should appear. that way we could locate people alot easier. i’ve gone on the page we have now bt the time i examine each profile 1 by 1 which would take forever my child could have already come in contact with the monsters you are trying to protect them from. what reasoning do you have for the web page being set up the way it is? why make it so hard???? are we trying to protect the children or ot?????