* Illinois Review has a post up about Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran’s letter to Rep. Ed Sullivan, a Republican supporter of gay marriage. Curran is definitely opposed…

In the letter to Rep. Sullivan, he gave three main reasons based on his experience and expertise in criminal justice:

“First, same sex marriage is not in the best interest of children; Second, same sex marriage is not in the best interest of society; and Third, same sex marriage will result in the loss of liberty for those opposed to same sex marriage.”

Curran told Sullivan that the overwhelming majority of people incarcerated in this country are male, up to approximately 90 percent in most correctional institutions.

“The single greatest common denominator of those incarcerated in this country is the absence of a father in their lives,” he said. “Some studies show approximately 85 percent of those in correctional institutions had no relationship with their fathers. All reliable studies show a boy that does not know his father is more than twice as likely to wind up incarcerated.”

Um, so if a boy has two fathers doesn’t that make him even less likely to wind up incarcerated?

Just asking…

*** UPDATE *** Rep. Sullivan responds…

Unfortunately, I have not yet had the opportunity to read his letter; a surrogate brought the letter to a meeting I had with approximately forty constituents Sunday night to discuss SB10. However, I am waiting for a return call from the Sheriff, and have been waiting for some time. When I heard that Sheriff Curran was going to be the lead speaker at the rally against the bill at my office, I called him thinking we could have a collegial discussion about marriage equality. I continue to extend that offer.

I have great respect for Mark, and have supported him for many years. When he changed parties from being a Democrat to being a Republican, I spoke at his press conference and welcomed him into our party, and that was after he was going to oppose me as a Democrat in the 51st District! When his conscience and religious beliefs dictated that he oppose the Death Penalty in Illinois, I supported him. When he backed a proposal to allow illegal immigrants the ability to have driver’s licenses, I was respectful of his beliefs even though I disagreed with him. And when the Sheriff was quoted as being in favor of decriminalizing arrests for marijuana possession in Waukegan, as a friend I was respectful of his views even though I did not share them.

Heh.

…Adding… Roundup…

* Editorial: Raising the Illinois speed limit would kill more motorists

* Editorial: Putting Illinois in the fast lane

* Editorial: Rate-hike dance has consumers partnerless

* NRA: Illinois A “Hotbed of Litigation” … And More Coming

* State ban on teen tanning? ‘Oh my God! I would cry’