This morning, the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT), a nonpartisan, "national pro-child, anti-crime membership association," may very well have ended the political career of Dave Albo (R-42nd District). Think I'm kidding? Well, you might want to read this first. All about how Dave Albo tried to "drastically lower penalties for child rape" to "the same punishment as this crime: larceny of any poultry of the value of $5 dollars or more." And about how Albo "helped kill a modest bill to require clergy to report certain child sex abuse."
Why on earth would Albo have done these things? According to PROTECT:
We know of only three reasons:
a. Lighter penalties benefit criminals and criminal defense lawyers.b. Some prosecutors?wanting unfettered discretion to plea bargain away even the most serious sex crimes (and those with physical evidence)?might have wanted a minor ?catch-all? crime, allowing probation for virtually any and every child sexual abuse crime.
c. Some people believe that incest and sexual abuse in the home should not be treated as a criminal problem, but rather a family problem, best dealt with through counseling and family reunification. The vast majority of child sexual abuse is committed by adults the victim knows?such as parents, step-parents, mother's boyfriends and others in position of authority. Those who view these circle of trust crimes as minor are treating most abuse as minor.
Wow. After this, can ANYONE seriously consider voting for this guy? Or, as PROTECT says, should people "hold Dave Albo accountable on November 8th?" I think the answer is pretty obvious.