TOUGHER PENALTY FOR RAPISTS WITH HIV/AIDS

Rape and sexual assault are horrible crimes that need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Today, I passed a bill out of the House aimed at increasing the penalty for such sexual assaults if the perpertrator has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. My Press Release follows:

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PRESS RELEASE
(Juneau) - "HB 258, a bill sponsored by Representative Bob Lynn (R-Anchorage), makes it an aggravating factor at sentencing for a person convicted of rape or other sexual assault previously diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. The bill passed the House unanimously today.

Representative Lynn said, "This pro-active bill acknowledges the additional pain and suffering caused by rapists and sexual assailants, who expose their victims to the potential delayed death sentence of HIV/AIDS, in addition to the horrific sexual assault. How or why the convicted rapist acquired HIV/AIDS is not the issue. The purpose of the bill is to help make Alaska a safer place to live, work, and play."

HB 258 has earned wide support from the public safety community, as well as groups with the mission of protecting women, men, and children. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration."