Kyle Collins of Lawrenceville
A recent Rutgers’s study asserts that Megan’s Law, which warns parents when sex offenders move nearby, has not been effective. However, this should not be viewed as a failed law.
The problem is, though NJ gave birth to Megan’s Law, our legislature has neglected to nurture it. In 2005, Florida nine year old Jessica Lunsford was abducted from her home by repeat child sex offender John Couey. Couey raped her, placed her in a garbage bag and buried her alive in a shallow grave.
Authorities discovered tightly in her hands a stuffed purple dolphin, which she clutched while she departed this earth alone and frightened.
Over 40 states across the nation responded with legislation that would prevent weak sentences from being given to repeat child sex offenders, as in the case of Couey, who served a mere two years for molesting a child in one case.
Since 2005 the Lunsford Act has been introduced in the NJ Legislature every session, but has yet to become law. I suggest the Legislature stop debating trivial issues, such how sad it is NJ does not have a state song and show some gumption and pass this law. The Jessica Lunsford Act languishes in the Judiciary committee despite over half the Assembly as cosponsors. It appears many NJ politicians know how to sign their names but little more.

