Thursday, April 13, 2006

Ruestman defends frontier justice bill

Rep. Marilyn Ruestman, R-Joplin, defended her frontier justice bill, HB 1461, which essentially gives people the right to blow away trespassers even if their lives are not endangered, in an article in the Wednesday Neosho Daily News.
What I still want to know is who were all of these people that Ms. Ruestman says were clamoring for this legislation. It seems far more likely this is yet another election year bill designed to appeal to the mom and apple pie set. Who could be against people having the right to defend their own property? Many prosecuting attorneys, including Newton County's Scott Watson, have expressed grave reservations about this legislation, rightly noting that Missourians already have the right to defend themselves. At least one prosecuting attorney favors the bill, Ms. Ruestman said in the Daily article. Of course she withheld his name.
Perhaps this unnamed prosecutor is a friend of those unnamed people who asked Ms. Ruestman to sponsor this legislation.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful way to get rid of nosy neighbors.