ALASKA SHOULDN'T BE A COMBAT ZONE

A common sense bill, SB3005, passed the House today on a 28-11 vote. I voted "Yes." The bill allows a peace officer to temporarily detain a person who witnessed, or was nearby, the scene of a crime such as homocide so as to obtain an account of the crime. A material witness is crucial to either defense or persecution. Unfortunately, material witnesses too often refuse to cooperate with law enforcement, thereby impeding the ability to bring indictments or to prosecute crime. I'm a former cop. I understand the need for this legislation. My comments on the House floor follow:

"Mr. Speaker: We need to be able to go to a ball game, or to the mall, or go anywhere else, without having to fear for our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, from gangbangers. Alaska shouldn't be a combat zone.

This bill is an appropriate step in making Alaska a safer place to live, work, and play, because it it gives law enforcement a better chance to solve crimes, and for crimes to be persecuted. I urge you to vote "yes" on this bill."