The House on July 25 approved, by voice vote, a bill (H.R. 4047) to provide life sentences for second-time offenders convicted on federal charges related to child sexual abuse. Rep. Mark Green (R-WI), sponsor of the measure, said the bill “is about removing bad people from society. It is about removing from society a very small number of people who cause tremendous damage. And every study tells us they will do it again and again and again, if we let them. They will rob children of their innocence, they will destroy families, and they will destroy our lives.”
Known as “two strikes and you’re out” legislation, the bill would pertain to serious sex crimes involving children age 18 and younger. H.R. 4047 would apply to cases involving second convictions for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, abusive sexual contact, sexual abuse resulting in death, the selling or buying of a child, and transporting a minor across state or national borders for illegal sexual purposes.
In addition to second-time offenders located in federal jurisdictions, the measure would apply to second-time offenders in state jurisdictions whose crimes would have merited federal charges if they had been committed in federal jurisdictions. The life sentence would be mandated unless a death sentence is imposed.
