Item: Tougher state sex offender laws are urged: GOP wants to call special session to address the issue /Levi Pulkkinen and Chris McGann, Seattle PI

Pro (special session): Hoping to capitalize on outrage surrounding the slaying of 12-year-old Zina Linnik, a handful of Republican state representatives have called for an emergency legislative session to consider sweeping changes to the state’s sex offender registration program.

Con (special session): Gov. Chris Gregoire and Democratic lawmakers — who hold strong majorities in the House and Senate — dismissed talk of an emergency legislative session as too hasty, and Senate Republicans also seemed content to wait for the regularly scheduled 2008 Legislature to deal with the issue.

Question: Is a special session to tighten sex offender laws warranted in Washington?