Call It Pre-Emptive Justice

Tue., Dec. 10, 1996

Doug Floyd Interactive Editor

Innocent until proved guilty is an established American premise. So, innocent until there’s something to be proved guilty of is beyond debate, right?

Not necessarily.

Washington is one of 45 U.S. states and territories actively supporting Kansas in a Supreme Court case involving child molesters.

At issue is whether authorities can lock up offenders who have served their time but who authorities believe will commit other crimes sooner or later.

Leroy Hendricks, the 62-year-old predator-defendant in the Kansas case, isn’t going to win any popularity contests, or even sympathy polls, on this issue.

But the sternest tests of constitutional principles rarely feature admirable people. What about this one? Can the law Kansas and its allies want to restore be reconciled with the Bill of Rights?

Are we ready for infantryperson?

Gender integration of the U.S. armed forces won’t be complete until all roles - including combat - are assigned solely on grounds of individual ability and aptitude.

Do Americans want their military to be gender-blind? Women in the cockpits of jet fighters? Women in the infantry, waging firefights on the ground? (Defending themselves against sexual predators in American uniforms doesn’t count.)

Some women in uniform would welcome a way, now barred to them, to accelerate their careers. Others are comfortable with things as they are.

Should women in the armed forces be treated the same as men, right down to combat duty?

Enforce the rules

Jean Payne of Nine Mile Falls applauds Washington State University basketball coach Kevin Eastman’s willingness to bench players who violate the team standards he has set.

“I think he’s right on. I want to express a lot of support for what he’s doing and I feel that more of us ought to be doing the same with our kids.”

The union forever

Should same-sex marriages be permitted for gay or lesbian couples? Not unless you come up with another name for it, says James A. Nelson of Spokane.

“Let the couples come up with a term more apropos, perhaps the word ‘union.’ There is no reason why the biblical and dictionary definitions of ‘marriage’ should be changed to accommodate their unions.”

, DataTimes MEMO: “Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.

“Bagpipes” appears Tuesdays and Thursdays. To respond, call Cityline at 458-8800, category 9881, from a Touch-Tone phone; or send a fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to dougf@spokesman.com. You also can leave Doug Floyd a message at 459-5577, extension 5466.

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