House Republican Press Release

 

 

 

April 17, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

 

Reps Hamzy, Burns:  Majority Democrats Kill ‘Three Strikes’ Proposal Again

 

Measure would have Imposed Life In Prison for 3rd Violent Felony Conviction

Majority Democrats in the state House of Representatives have killed another proposal to require life imprisonment for criminals convicted of a third violent felony offense -  this time refusing to even permit debate on the measure, state Representatives William A. Hamzy and Ron Burns said today.

“Once again, the majority Democrats have demonstrated their hostility to legislation that would put the most dangerous repeat violent offenders in prison for the rest of their lives,” said Representative Hamzy, R-78th District. “Despite overwhelming support among Connecticut residents for legislation to crack down on dangerous criminals who commit heinous crimes such as murder, rape, home invasion or kidnapping, the Democrats not only killed our proposal on a technicality but refused to even allow debate on it.”

“Since last summer’s home invasion murders in Cheshire, we have seen at least two similar incidents in nearby towns that ended tragically, one in New Britain and another in Waterbury,” said Representative Burns, R-77th District. “How many more innocent people will have to die at the hands of career criminals before the majority Democrats in the state House and Senate realize that there are some criminals who are incapable of being rehabilitated? Our proposal targets repeat violent criminals – the worst of the worst - those who are clear threats to public safety and will continue to prey on law-abiding citizens no matter how many second, third and fourth chances they get.”

The legislation, a Republican amendment to a bill relating to the state’s judicial system, would have required state courts to sentence anyone convicted of a third violent felony offense to  life imprisonment without the possibility of release. It also would have required prosecutors to explain in open court or in writing why they decided not to pursue charges against defendants that are available to them and which could have resulted in an enhanced penalty, representatives Hamzy and Burns said.