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Kelsey Grammer pushes constitutional amendment

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* Big, big bucks are being spent to urge a “Yes” vote on the Crime Victims Bill of Rights constitutional amendment next month. Proponents have now lined up a celebrity spokesman. From a press release…

Kelsey Grammer may be best known for the roles he’s played in the television series Cheers and Frasier; but starting today, you’ll see him on airwaves with a more somber tone encouraging Illinois voters to vote ‘yes’ for the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. Grammer’s passionate involvement with this issue stems from the most horrific tragedies of his life. Grammer’s father, Frank Grammer, was murdered in 1968. Seven years later, his sister, Karen Grammer, was raped by four men and murdered in Colorado. […]

Grammer was not paid for his participation in this ad.

* The ad…

* Script…

“I’m Kelsey Grammer. Nearly 40 years ago, my sister Karen was murdered. Since that time, I have done my best to keep the man responsible for her death behind bars. In Illinois, victims and their families don’t always have that right. With the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights, victims and their families will be informed and heard before criminals can be paroled. I urge you to vote ‘yes’ on the Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights. These people have suffered immeasurable loss. It seems doubly criminal that they might lose their voice as well.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:06 pm

Comments

I’d give it an A.

Comment by A modest proposal Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:13 pm
Hard to follow and in my opinion ineffective.

Comment by John A. Logan Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:14 pm
My states’ attorney believes this is an attempt by the AG office to insert itself into local county prosecutions. I am concerned that if passed, it will further slow down/add cost to criminal proceedings by requiring a “re-do” if the additional procedural steps aren’t met. We already have a crime victim bill of rights. Why can’t this be done with a legislative fix?

Comment by Put the Fun in unfunded Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:15 pm
===Why can’t this be done with a legislative fix? ===

Because existing constitutional language needed to be changed before a legislative “fix” could be implemented.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:17 pm
Horrible, unspeakable tragedies. I remember as a youth feeling super nervous when one or both of my parents came home from work late. They owned a business in a bad neighborhood. They were robbed only once or twice but thankfully not harmed.

I voted yes for this amendment.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:17 pm
Finally a celebrity in this campaign season that I like. Makes sense to me, I’m voting yes.

Comment by Jaded Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 3:18 pm
I have not heard enough to be convinced. It seems to me like this might slow down procedure in the court system.

I have read very little about why this would be necessary, and will almost always default to no on amendments.

What is the argument and has there been much outreach done to try to convince people? If so it hasn’t reached me (other than the pamphlet from the State).

Comment by elginkevin Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:08 pm
I should also state that I don’t read (or trust) newspapers and I don’t watch broadcast TV.

And am annoyed that political ads have made it to Hulu, but probably not in anything near the frequency you’re seeing them via the local channels.

Comment by elginkevin Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:10 pm
Right on

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:15 pm
victims in Cook County have been involved in the process for over 25 years. very uncertain whether this amendment is necessary

Comment by Amalia Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 4:24 pm
So the need to amend the Illinois Constitution on “victims rights” is driven by the people who advocate for “victims rights” screwing-up the last time they got a chance to include language in the Illinois Constitution.

Am I right?

Perhaps the whole “victims rights” approach to criminal justice is flawed?

BTW, how does one qualify as a “victim” to cause this part of Illinois Constitution to be applicable?

Does the states attorney designate people as “victims”?

So, if the states attorney wants to do an end run on “victims rights” he can just skip charging the crime. Is this right?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 5:06 pm
===screwing-up the last time they got a chance to include language in the Illinois Constitution.===

It was a compromise. An inadequate one, as it turned out.

As for the rest of your post, go read the thing. This ain’t Google.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Oct 27, 14 @ 5:08 pm
in Illinois( Don’t know if you can do in every state) you can look up the inmates by name DOC inmate # or birthdate online. You can keep up on where they are. You have to put effort into it. When you see they are on the move, find out where their headed. Check what’s going on with the states attorney handling the case. The victims family gp has to care enough to keep checking. The people working the court system are over worked & might not notify you. You keep on top of it, that’s your job to the victim. My sister in law was killed 26 years ago in Illinois. We live out of state. But when her killer who got life without parole is wasting the courts time & money I know it. I check once a week. The victims rights advocate was great help. Don’t remember meeting her, but it’s like we’ve known each other all our lives. If the family takes interest it makes a difference. My sister in laws killer is trying to claim his sentence is unfair. Wants it reduced. Fight for the victim if your their friend or family!

Comment by DES Tuesday, Oct 28, 14 @ 10:26 pm