THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407130011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
The crime bill is stuck in Congress. The House passed it last November and the Senate passed its version in April. Both chambers are are now wrestling to reconcile their respective versions of the bill. They shouldn't bother. It's hard to imagine any version of the bill passing that would enhance the safety of the American people.
The bill expands the number of offenses subject to a federal death penalty. Congress would do far better if it sought to smooth the way to the death chamber for those already on death row. It would also make a federal offense virtually every crime committed with a firearm.
The most objectionable parts of the bill, however, come from the liberal side of the spectrum. The Black and Hispanic Caucuses are seeking to effectively ban the death penalty by allowing defendants to use statistics showing racial disparities in the use of the death penalty.
Then there are the so-called ``prevention programs,'' which include things like ``midnight basketball leagues.'' Two questions: Do the sponsors really believe the availability of a basketball court will make it less likely some hoodlum will rob a convenience store? And, second, would any of these congressmen or women permit their children to be out playing basketball at midnight on a school night?
The crime bill itself is a crime. It is nothing more than pork barrel by another name. (It's estimated cost is $30 billion over five years.) Better no bill at all than a bad one like this. by CNB