[TBBlue]

Originally posted by akalsey

I have a habit of doing that.

Look, I don't want to get assaulted any more than the next guy (although if you're chosing someone to assault, I'd rather you chose the next guy), but I don't see why we need a special law making it "extra illegal" to assault me while I've got my uniform on.

We need a special law because the NASO is a lobbying group that has pushed this reform to the legislatures of various states, on behalf of sports officials. As a sports official, I say cool. NASO has money to give to legislators. Legislators work for money, contrary to their ads that say they are solely in the job to serve the public. Therefore NASO gives legislators money, legislators accept money and push NASO's request onto the floor and convince their brethren that officials are getting assaulted everyday, so we need a law to protect those poor sports officials. The pizza delivery guy who gets robbed and beaten doesn't have a lobbying group working on his behalf, so he has to make do with the regular law that is in place. In my opinion, either law is as good as the other, and legally, the results will be the same in court, depending on the Judge, Attorneys for both sides and Jury, if a jury case.

This wasn't a shot at NASO specifically, they promote officiating and I like that alot. It is about how any special interest law is pushed to a legislative vote through lobbying groups, even though a similar law is on the books already for the masses. We don't need a special law, but lobbyists are paid handsomely to convince people that a special law is needed.

Finally, I believe the guy with the baseball bat should be charged with attempted murder, and go from there. If his charge will get reduced anyway, let's start at the top. Since he had time to steam over the prom issue, his actions could be deemed premeditated by a good prosecutor.