Thursday, May 4, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Statement from Gov. Matt Blunt on Senate Action to Protect Children
Today the Missouri Senate passed House Bill 1698, which as passed strengthens minimum sentencing requirements for sexual predators who target children.
“More than nine months ago I called for changes to our law to protect Missouri children and ensure that heinous sexual predators stay behind bars and serve strong minimum sentences. I applaud Senate members who today heeded my call by passing important legislation that mandates a lifetime sentence with a minimum of 30 years served for forcible rape or forcible sodomy when the victim is younger than age 12.
“I now call on House members to pass this extremely meaningful and necessary piece of legislation that includes a mandatory minimum sentence and to join me in recognizing the importance of protecting our children. No amount of jail time, no sentence, no penalty would be enough to make amends for the hurt these criminals inflict on their victims, but these tough mandatory sentences will keep predators behind bars and will help keep their hands off children who just might otherwise become their next victim.”
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