
They want me to be “on camera” as a voice in opposition to what they and Rep. John Tilley call prison “REFORMS.” They were referring to HB 463 – Tilley’s baby that discourages law-breakers from being sent to prison. (Catch & Release).
They had already interviewed Rep. Tilley, a criminal defense lawyer, by the way.
I told FRONTLINE that “REFORM” appeared to be a Tilley’s and media code-word for soft-on-crime; or let’em out early; or never send’em to prison in the first place.
Reform normally means a change to make things better. “A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER,” it seems, depends on one’s perspective:
1. To CRIME-VICTIMS – “REFORM” does not mean let more law-breakers out of prison or weaken our criminal laws. It means make them responsible for their crimes, so they won’t do it again. Protect us from them.
2. To POLICE & PROSECUTORS – “REFORM” means serious consequences for breaking the law and protection for the law-abiding public. It does not mean “hug-a-thug” laws and punishment which seems to reward criminal behavior.
3. To the “PUBLIC” – “REFORM” means passing laws which make them safer, not making their lives and communities less safe and secure.
SO WHAT DO LEGISLATORS & FRONTLINE mean when they say “REFORM?”
Does it mean what our law-abiding and tax-paying citizens think: that government should do everything it can to guarantee the safety & securityof our citizens OR does it mean release more convicted criminals from jail or prison?
IT IS ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE and we know the perspective of FRONTLINE and Rep. John Tilley: “Catch & Release.”
By the way – I told FRONTLINE that I suspect that they already had their story from the Rep. Tilley-Main-Stream-Media perspective and That I would just as soon NOT be a prop in their story. But thanks for asking.