I have often felt that any law that bears the name of a victim of crime is probably bad public policy. I suspect that this informal rule of thumb can be broadened to include any legislation that is written out of either fear or anger.
Legislators, by definition, must be responsive to their community. Egregious crimes (particularly sexual offending) touch into our deepest instincts of protection and safety, and spur legitimate outrage. Such events can be opportunities to reflect on how and where we failed to protect the vulnerable, and if need be address these failures with legislation. That is different, however, than reflexive policy.
We have too much reflexive policy on the books. Such laws rarely improve public safety; create institutional and individual financial burden; and damage lives and families.
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