jon@dmcityview.com

Putting away 'real' predators for 25 years makes perfect sense

Sen. Larry McKibbon, a blowhard Steve King wannabe who often finds his way into this publication's "Winners & Losers" column - as a loser - is among a group of Republican senators that is going to push hard this session for a law that would require a mandatory 25-year prison sentence for an adult convicted of a first-time sexual offense against a child. McKibbon wants to lock them up and, for the most part, throw away the key.

With sensible limitations, I could not agree more.

And while I could wax on about how, as a father, I want my kid to be safe from the rain-coated, drooling monsters lurking in the shadows who mean harm, I think it is best to deal with this from a more practical standpoint.

People get recognition as advocates when they fall victim to the most calamitous of circumstances. Their words ring hauntingly true, and their emotions can get away from them. Those of us not directly affected, though, need to be more thoughtful in our approach.

Men like McKibbon want to drag out poor little Jetseta Gage's body every time someone turns a camera on and place her name tactlessly in campaign literature, when, in all actuality, an argument can be made that his argument is more common sense than political. See, locking up hardcore sex offenders (molesters, rapists and murderers) whose victims are children for 25 years is nothing but sensible.

Thus far, despite all the get-tough rhetoric, Iowa lawmakers have done nothing but make themselves appear foolish and trivial when it comes to dealing with these predators. The 18-year-old boy who sleeps with his 16-year-old girlfriend is not a sex offender. The 2,000-foot rule is a joke, because you can essentially play in the schoolyard as a sex offender. You just can't sleep next door. Electronic monitoring devices would do nothing except possibly help locate a sex offender after yet another body has been found. And the amount of money earmarked for treatment was bickered on and on about until it finally dwindled to a mere pittance.

In fact, the only thing our so-called state leaders can agree on is that they simply cannot agree on what is the best approach when it comes to dealing with sexual predators. Some want to cut their nuts off. Some want to give them a pill - and a hug. But the beauty of McKibbon's plan is that we wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. And politicians wouldn't have to talk about it anymore.

As a publication, Cityview has pointed out the absurdity of lumping together sex offenders of every persuasion with such imprudent legislation as the 2,000-foot rule - the mother who slept with her 16-year-old stepson, the one-handed Web surfer, the lonely admirers of the prepubescent, the ones who act on it, the murderers, the molesters, the gropers and so on. One big genetically flawed bouillabaisse, our lawmakers insist. And while some might say McKibbon's proposal would do more of the same, in all actuality, if constructed correctly, it could be much more narrow in focus: your crime affects a child - a real child - you are sent up river for 25 years. No questions asked.

Of course, McKibbon claims such a harsh punishment would discourage predators, which is political nonsense, as is any argument insisting that reinstating the death penalty would do likewise. That would mean that these monsters have a choice, which they do not. Monsters never do.

However, if thought of as mere peace of mind for the rest of us - the ones who do not have laws named after us, thank God - the proposed legislation becomes purpose-driven. No gray area. No reason to lobby on the statehouse steps. The serious offender is going away until the problematic parts of him have rotted and fallen off like brown bananas. No need for a 2,000-foot rule. No need for electronic monitoring devices. And no need wasting valuable dollars trying to rehabilitate the real nasty ones. These animals aren't going anywhere.

For sure, the less offensive offenders would need to be dealt with, but the real scourge would be behind bars. The guy who jerks off in his basement looking at kiddie porn is disgusting to ponder, obviously, but the guy who jerks off in his basement looking at real kiddies is the one we need to be most worried about. And while we won't get him before the first time, with any luck we'll get him before the second time and not have to worry about him again for a long, long time.

Obviously, law enforcement is not easy. But if we bring the hammer down hard right from the get-go, much of the guesswork can be taken out of it. No pills, no hugs, no gallows, no chemical castration, no politicking, no worrying about sympathetic judges, no door knocking, just one simple rule that states the most vicious predators will be taken off our streets and away from our kids.

With an issue that has been as muddy as this one, everything should be so crystal clear. CV

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