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SENATE AND HOUSE AT ODDS OVER AMBER
ALERT
By Becky Knauer
The chess match between House and Congress over the national Amber Alert System remains a stalemate.
Despite the recent return of Elizabeth Smart, critics remain hesitant to fully support a nation wide Amber Alert system for fear that it could possibly instigate and promote vigilantism.
Proponents, however, back Edward Smart in his passionate plea to institute a national alert system, arguing that the system has led to at least 23 recoveries in the past six years. Few mistakes are a small price to pay for rescuing missing children.
A recent New York Times editorial recognized the potential success of Amber Alerts, but also focused upon its possible downfalls such as the promotion of vigilantism and the potential misinformation for putting out wrong information that could incriminate innocent people. In terms of cost-benefit alone, the editorial said the allotted financing was not warranted; abductions are less of a threat to children than choking or bicycle accidents.
Attorney Michael Coco said there are some negative consequences in passing a national Amber Alert system, but with some resolutions, the good will outweigh the bad.
“I think that this type of abuse of the system will be rare,” Coco said. “Quick resolution of all reports will help those who really are victims and will help exonerate anyone who is falsely accused. To falsely accuse is terrible and this should be prosecuted, vigorously, when it happens.”
Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas said that recent negotiations between the House and the Senate are currently holding the Amber Alert bill hostage.
“What we're doing is holding hostage the Amber Alert bill because some members in the other party want the other provisions, which indications are the Senate will not accept,” said Frost.
According to The New York Times, Senate is pushing to create a national child kidnapping notification network as well as granting money to states for essential training and equipment.
House Judiciary Chairman, James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis, agrees with Senate’s proposal, however, said he feels it requires additional provisions. He wants to include within the bill denial for pretrial release of child rapists, elimination of the statute of limitations on child abductions and a required life sentence for those sex offenders that are twice convicted.“This legislation would not only get the word out after a kidnapping but takes strong steps to prevent them from occurring in the first place.” Sensenbrenner said.
Democratic Rep. Robert Scott of Virginia backed Edward Smart’s claim that Sensenbrenner’s insistence on this full package will only force the Amber Alert bill to be tossed back and forth between the Senate and the House instead of going directly to President Bush for his signature.
Regardless of those in favor or against the national Amber Alert bill, most, like Coco, believe that this system, whether a state or national law, should be executed with caution.“Having citizens report each other should be used for only serious things like child abuse, kidnapping, etc,” he said. “A free people should be careful with laws like this because of the potential for government abuse of freedoms.”
The Amber Alert system originated in Arlington, Texas in 1996 when nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was taken from her home while riding her bicycle. After Hagerman was killed shortly after her abduction, the Dallas/Fort Worth Association of Radio Managers put together a system that would immediately alert the public, media and police if a child in the area were kidnapped.