FW: Fagan
I'm copying and pasting Stella's LJ post about this guy, because I think its something that needs to be passed around and brought to people's attention. This guy openly says that not only should he personally ruin the life of a child who takes the witness stand against someone who has sexually abused or raped him/her, but he will happily do it with such vigor and aggression that, "When they are 8 they will throw up, when they are 12 they won't sleep, and they won't have a relationship with anybody."
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This is Massachusetts Representative James Fagan commenting in opposition to Jessica's Law (minimum sentancing of 25 years for convicted child predators).
If you can stomach it (I almost couldn't), watch the video of his speech, linked on this page. His language is graphic and hatefully charged, just as a warning
Story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371344,00.html
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq-NJ1YQu8M&fmt=18
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EDIT: There is a flip side to this, actually, now that I look into it beyond my rage. There are some things on that closed captioned text that you didn't hear him say. I guess his point was that with Jessica's Law giving mandatory minimum sentencing, the Defense Attorney can't bargain for a lighter sentence, which means their only course of action in their job is to shoot for an innocent verdict. And to do that they have to discredit the witnesses in cross examination. I guess another part of the Jessica's Law includes the ability for young child victims to take the stand, and Fagan was apparently trying to demonstrate that (and this is partially quoted from that text I mentioned) he, or "Someone worse" is going to tear them apart in cross examination, because that's unfortunately their job.
But on that note, there comes a fucking limit. And that is where all this outrage is stemming from. Even a lawyer should have morals enough not to destroy a little child. There are ways to out smart a six year old without ruining their life. Even a hack lawyer could find a way around that.
--Once and Future Nick
Run! Hide! Your time is coming
---------------------------------
This is Massachusetts Representative James Fagan commenting in opposition to Jessica's Law (minimum sentancing of 25 years for convicted child predators).
If you can stomach it (I almost couldn't), watch the video of his speech, linked on this page. His language is graphic and hatefully charged, just as a warning
Story:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371344,00.html
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq-NJ1YQu8M&fmt=18
----------------------------------
EDIT: There is a flip side to this, actually, now that I look into it beyond my rage. There are some things on that closed captioned text that you didn't hear him say. I guess his point was that with Jessica's Law giving mandatory minimum sentencing, the Defense Attorney can't bargain for a lighter sentence, which means their only course of action in their job is to shoot for an innocent verdict. And to do that they have to discredit the witnesses in cross examination. I guess another part of the Jessica's Law includes the ability for young child victims to take the stand, and Fagan was apparently trying to demonstrate that (and this is partially quoted from that text I mentioned) he, or "Someone worse" is going to tear them apart in cross examination, because that's unfortunately their job.
But on that note, there comes a fucking limit. And that is where all this outrage is stemming from. Even a lawyer should have morals enough not to destroy a little child. There are ways to out smart a six year old without ruining their life. Even a hack lawyer could find a way around that.
--Once and Future Nick
Run! Hide! Your time is coming