Brown's no vote led to a safer community protection law

Voters in Washington’s 5th Congressional District have seen Cathy McMorris-Rodger’s ad regarding Lisa Brown’s vote on community protection zones. It is at best disingenuous.

McMorris Rodgers is correct when she says that Brown opposed a proposal creating “community protection zones,” which would “prohibit sex offenders from living within 880 feet of the facilities or grounds of a public or private schools” (elementary and secondary schools and universities).

She forgot to mention, however, that Lisa Brown had argued that preschools and daycares should also be protected and therefore voted “No.” In 2005, the bill was rewritten to include preschools and daycares. Brown voted “Yes,” as did McMorris Rodgers.

My question is simple. Of the two legislators, whose vote best protected the younger children? By voting “No” to the first vote, Lisa Brown forged the way for a more comprehensive law to be enacted.

Carolyn Cress

Pullman