Slashdot Mirror


New Jersey Bars Sex Offenders From the Internet

eldavojohn writes "New Jersey just passed legislation making it illegal for sex offenders to use the internet. NJ congresswoman Linda D. Greenstein said, 'When Megan's Law was enacted, few could envision a day when a sex offender hiding behind a fake screen name would be a mouse-click away from new and unwitting victims. Sex offenders cannot be given an opportunity to abuse the anonymity the Internet can provide as a means of opening a door to countless new potential victims.' While they still can search for jobs, this is a major expansion over the prior legislation which barred them from social networking sites like facebook or myspace."

5 of 435 comments (clear)

  1. Cue the endless.. by PatrickThomson · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Cue the endless hyperbolic posts about 17-18 couples with grudge-holding parents, or guys who get pulled up on public urination to meet a sex offender quota.. Yes, I'm sure some people have been unfairly branded with this label. I'm also sure some people on death row are innocent. Tell me, which ones?

    --
    I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
  2. Am I the only one by MarsDefenseMinister · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I don't see the problem with this law. Using the Internet isn't a right, it's a privilege, and with due process privileges can be taken away. The due process here is the law.

    Sex offenders are wildly out of control, and we should make sure that we have the right to protect ourselves. Think of the victims here, and think of making it harder for these scumbags to find innocent families to victimize.

    --
    No weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men.-Ronald Reagan
  3. Re:WTF? by Pig+Hogger · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I don't have a silver bullet for this problem.
    Yes there is. Get rid of religion; if not in the "real world", at least in the fantasy world of legislation.
  4. Re:WTF? by Pig+Hogger · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Well that shows that law is screwed up.

    The law, yes, but mostly, the morm^hons.

  5. Re:Who is a sex offender? by morari · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The former are people who suffer from a mental illness - they need treatment and not punishment [...] Great idea! Let's make our already weak justice system even more pathetic by helping all of the poor little criminals out with their personal problems. After all, it's not their fault, it's their "condition".

    Bullshit.

    --
    "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune