Many Democrats and trial lawyers are opposed to Jessica’s Law because it would give “draconian” sentences to child rapists. They often try to put their objections into more palatable sound bites which sometimes works but often fails and ends up sounding like they support the rights of convicted child rapists over the rights of the children they victimize.
If James H. Fagan comes across sounding like that, it’s apparently because that’s exactly what he believes. But don’t take my word for it, listen to it straight from the horse’s mouth:
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Catch that? According to Fagan it’d be better for children if child rapists faced lenient sentences they’d be willing to plea to because then the kids wouldn’t be forced into the position of being “traumatized” by lawyers like Fagan who would have to fight tooth and claw to keep the people who rape children from facing “draconian” penalties.
In other words, it’ll be child advocates’ faults when Fagan calls a 9-year-old rape victim a slut on the stand, because if we’d have “less draconian” (read reasonable) sentences the kid would never be in court to begin with. Makes sense, right?
I’ll do you one better Rep. Fagan, let’s not prosecute child rapists at all! That way the victims will be protected from the trauma of a court case. Moron.
The most disturbing part of this story is that Fagan lists several children’s organizations on his bio as groups he’s affiliated with, including The Southeastern New England Area Boys’ Clubs of America, Taunton Little League, and the Taunton Boys & Girls Club where he’s on the board of directors. Makes you think doesn’t it?
How does Rep. Fagan defend such asinine comments? He doesn’t. He has not commented on the story at this time. Mark Lundsford did have some choice words for Fagan though:
The father of a slain Florida girl pushing for mandatory prison time for child rapists in the Bay State is blasting a Taunton lawmaker who said he’d torment young victims on the witness stand to defend his perv clients.
“Why doesn’t he figure out a way to defend that child and put these kind of people away instead of trying to figure ways for defense attorneys to get around Jessica’s Law?†Mark Lunsford fumed, slamming recent remarks by Rep. James Fagan. “These are very serious crimes that nobody wants to take serious. What about the rights of these children?â€
Lunsford, whose daughter Jessica was raped and murdered in Florida by a repeat sex offender, will be in Massachusetts tomorrow to push lawmakers to pass Jessica’s Law, which would require a 20-year sentence for rape of a child under 12. The House passed a watered-down version of the bill last week but Lunsford and other victims’ rights activists will be pushing the Senate to include mandatory prison time in the final law.
20 years for raping a child under 12-years-old hardly seems draconian to me. Maybe Fagan misunderstands Jessica’s Law? Is that why he doesn’t support it?
Why not ask him? His district office number is 508-824-7000 and his State House phone number is 617-722-2040. Or email him at Rep.JamesFagan@hou.state.ma.us. Be sure to write “Really?” in the header or a simple “Stay classy” if you already know what his answer will be when you ask him why he won’t help the protect the children of Massachusetts.
Hot Air has more and a comment thread that you’ll want to see. This story has also got the Freepers’ heads spinning.
You should call the district office right now – he’s in and I just spoke with him 10:55 am 6/25. Why is it that any time someone wants to protest themselves from sickos like the ones that would rape or kill innocent children – and you try to talk to someone like this jackass… you get told your stupid and don’t know the law or understand the Constitution. Or that we would be doing away with the Constitution if we seek to protect the innocent victims. This man is a wack job but it’s typical from MA and being a Dem. to boot. And this guy has kids – it makes my stomach churn that he has any power what so ever.
I emailed the following to him:
Rep. Fagan,
I just read your comments concerning how you plan on handling child rape victims while they are on the witness stand during trial and I am truly appalled. You are essentially plotting to revictimize these children all over again and that is disgusting. You should truly be ashamed. To want to provide your clients with the best defense possible is one thing, but for you to say “I’m gonna rip them apart,” ,”I’m going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined, that when they’re 8 years old, they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep; when they’re 19 years old, they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody.†is just more than most people can stomach. How on Earth could you WANT to hurt these children again?
Your comments honestly leave people with a very bad impression of you. As a matter of fact, I believe one person’s comments that I saw posted said that it made them think you must be a child rapist yourself. Don’t be surprised when you lose your political office soon. You have no one but yourself and your despicable comments to blame.
Thank you ladies. I hope everyone reading this contacts Fagan and tells him what they think. It won’t change his views but at least it’ll wipe that smug look off his face when he realizes most Americans see what a degenerate he is.
I can’t believe that we have elected people like this! He has threatened victimized kids everywhere! I sent him an email citing an example of a lenient judge in Vermont. I also posted my email on my blog if anyone wants to read it: http://averagepolitics.wordpress.com/2008/06/25/fagan-threatens_kids/
I can’t believe this guy has kids and could say all of that! I guess he doesn’t think his kids would ever be victimized!
I’m sorry… I was so upset after speaking to this man that I couldn’t see straight and could barely get out exactly what I wanted to write, so I wanted to touch base and include this about the brief and insane conversation I had earlier with Rep. James Fagan.
After he went on and on about how we might as well throw away the Constitution if mandatory sentences were passed and started in on constitutional rights of the child rapists no less – I cut in and said that anyone that raped or harmed a child shouldn’t have constitutional rights, he yelled at me and in basic terms said then I shouldn’t have constitutional rights and no one else should either.
As I stated, the whole brief conversation was completely insane. He would rather get up and destroy a child’s life even further than a rapist already has, than to find a way to get a piece of crap off the streets and protect innocent children.
And if you don’t agree with his way of figuring on this one, be prepared to be told that the majority of people are stupid and don’t know the law and don’t know what the Constitution stands for.
BTW – do you know that according to a different document – the Declaration of Independence, our illustrious founding fathers wrote:
‘Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.’
I would have to honestly say at this time that I have found that the current form of government in this country has become destructive and that we as citizens were given a right to abolish it and begin anew. I don’t think one member of Congress or anyone else in Washington D.C. gives a rat’s butt about the true welfare of the citizens of this country.
At this point, they all seem to have become parasites, feeding off of each and every one of us. Our so called representatives do not represent us – they represent themselves and each one wants to out do the next on how much they can squeeze out of the system for their own personal gain and to hell with us.
I am praying that James Fagan and the likes of him will not be re-elected – where ever they are – that people will wake up and see these people for who they truly are and stop the madness.
That’s horrible. I love the Constitution as much as the next guy but criminals give up their rights when they decide to rape children. The Constitution isn’t a suicide pact and Fagan is just hiding behind the “heroic lefty” image to defend his lack of character.
There is nothing in the Constitution that forbids mandatory sentences for criminals. Fagan and his lawyer friends just want to be able to offer their clients plea bargains so they can continue to collect fat fees for getting people the least amount of time possible. Someone should remind Fagan that the founding fathers hung rapists and pedophiles as a matter of course, and a father finding his daughter dishonored would fight the rapist to the death if given the chance.
I’m betting Ben Franklin would have signed Jessica’s law. The Democrats Marxist heroes like Castro would not.
Elizabeth, thank you. I’m grateful that there are people like you who are willing to actually take time out of their days to call elected officials and remind them that they are accountable to the public. Many of our representatives are too insulated from the people they represent, and once elected, use their appointments to advance appallingly ignorant personal agendas. So again, thank you for holding James Fagan accountable for the well-being of the children he would have suffer at the hands of predators. I encourage everyone who reads this to do what Elizabeth has done.
From now on when I see a steaming pile of shit I will think of Mr FAgan….I certainly hope he has not been breeding….Asshole
And I thought I was an asshole….I heard this guy Fagan was cloned from one of Hitlers anal hairs
Rep. Fagan had 6 children, all boys- one of which was killed in an accident. He has no girl children – I wonder about grandchildren. He is obviousIy biased in favor of males. With regard to his defense tactics, he apparently forgets that children under age are protected by law from sexual predators because they are TOO YOUNG to be able to protect themselves and do not have the intellectual and emotional maturity or the physical strength to fight off their attackers. A murdered child cannot testify when the accused is brought to trial and the defense attorney must mount a defense against the evidence and those who produce the evidence. That a defendant has the right to face his accuser should not automatically confer the right of defense attorneys to attack an underage child on the stand. What has happened to common sense and compassion for the victim? Rapists used to be put to death -20 year sentence is light in comparison. This is a reflection of the growing acceptance of sexual deviance and perversion that is promoted as acceptable in our society. Mr. Fagan is certainly not fit to hold office but I am sure he has many deviant supporters who will continue to elect him. I hope they stay in Massachusettes with him.