House lawmakers today approved legislation long sought by Governor Deval Patrick that would limit employers’ access to the criminal records of job applicants, saying the measure would make it easier for former convicts to find work and avoid the temptations of crime.Moments after the bill passed, on a 138-17 vote, a throng of former offenders and activists who had been watching from the House gallery spilled into the halls of the State House, cheering and chanting, "Sí, se puede!" – Spanish for "Yes, we can!" The bill was a major priority for many of Boston’s ministers and others who work to reintegrate former offenders into society.
You know, nothing gives me a case of the warm 'n' fuzzies like hearing illegal alien criminals cheering something the MA legislature has done. If this were any place other than Massachusetts I'd be torn on this measure - on the one hand, part of your punishment is owning up to what you've done. If that means that you have to suffer after you've done your time because businesses won't hire you, well, tough shit - you should have thought of that before breaking the law. On the other hand, there are so many bullshit, ridiculous laws aimed at making a felon out of the average person that I can't fully fault this - why should someone pay for decades because they had a piece of brass stuck to their shoe leaving a friend's gun range?
But this is Massachusetts - we make stupid laws an art form.
That is all.
Story sent by my blogson Colin, who is joining the chorus of folks who think my blood pressure is too low...
5 comments:
So now employers and employees will find out about someones background the hardway... WTF?
Im all for allowing someone to assimilate back into society AFTER passing some stringent guidelines.
BUT this will never happen.
Don't worry, I'm sure if they catch any gun owners with a .22 that holds 11 rounds in the magazine, that conviction will still show up.
I thought that the whole idea of a prison sentence or fine or probation was to pay your debt to society... and that you're then a free man?
Just pointing out the other side of the coin here.
Given the number of dumb shit things that are felonies today, I can't get all worked up over something like this.
You know, my former employer in Jackson-byGod-ville, FL, ran alleged background checks on all employees. However, they didn't notice the guy wanted in three states on rape charges. Until he raped someone in Jax and a police sketch made the paper, and a colleague said, "Hey! Isn't that like..."
So I can't get too excited about background checks. They'll get the guy who was caught with half an ounce of weed in 1987, but not the serial rapist.
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