Tough political position to be in here.  You know something, the SNS has received comments from readers who don’t like it when prosecutors take the hard line against sexual predators.  Wonder if this story will stir them up again.  From the Telegram.com:

The House last night adopted a bill to impose mandatory minimum sentences for new crimes of aggravated child rape, but rejected arguments from State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, to impose a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence for rape of a child with force.

Ms. Polito argued the mandatory sentence for forcible child rape was needed to send a message that the state is tough on child rapists, guarantee that everyone convicted would serve jail time, and put the state in line with 42 others that have mandatory sentencing laws for child rape.

“When we see the rape of a child, it should mean a mandatory sentence, not maybe,” she said. “We ought to be offering the first, best protection,” for the state’s children, she argued before the amendment was rejected on a 123 – 24 vote with all 19 Republicans and five Democrats voting for the amendment.

Critics, including House Judiciary Chairman Eugene L. Flaherty, D-Boston, argued against Ms. Polito’s amendment, saying the state’s district attorneys and Attorney General Martha Coakley have all recommended against the 10-year sentencing for forcible child rape. He said those officials, however, support the proposed new sentencing minimums for the new aggravated child rape offenses covering cases involving authority figures, use of a weapon or drugs.

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