The ref

[Ed62]

True story. Two high schools were having a basketball game when a parent became upset with the ref. He walked out on the court, and pushed the ref. The ref told the guy he was a state cop, and he'd better not do that again. So the guy pushed him again. The ref/cop arrested him.

The cop is now talking to state politicians, trying to get a special sentence for any person attacking the officials at a kid's game.

Ed

[cabinetman]

That's the way it oughta be.
.

[jackellis]

I don't know about a special sentence. That's probably going too far because under existing law, the parent could be charged with assault and battery.

What might make better sense is a state law that bans any parent who attacks an official at a kids game from any under-18 athletic event. A deterrent and a punishment that's proportional to the crime.

[os1kne]

I don't know about a special sentence. That's probably going too far because under existing law, the parent could be charged with assault and battery.

What might make better sense is a state law that bans any parent who attacks an official at a kids game from any under-18 athletic event. A deterrent and a punishment that's proportional to the crime.

I agree. I'm not a fan of creating new laws when the offense was already illegal under an existing law. Assault is assault regardless of whether the person is a referee or not.

[LinuxRandal]

It already is/can be more severe, as it is assaulting an officer.

[crokett]

I agree. I'm not a fan of creating new laws when the offense was already illegal under an existing law. Assault is assault regardless of whether the person is a referee or not.

There is precedent. Murder is murder, except when it is a hate crime. Then it carries a stiffer penalty. So don't create a new law, modify the existing assault laws to include harsher penalties for attacking referees.

[os1kne]

I agree that there's plenty of precedent, I'm just not a big fan of the trend of "special rules". The punishment should be severe enough to deter the behavior regardless of the standing of the offended party.

How does one determine if an assault should be a "hate crime"? This can be very subjective, some cases will be clear-cut - while many others may appear to be, when they shouldn't - or vice versa.

Why have a special punishment for assaults of referee's - and not school teachers, or postal workers, or...? Where does it end? Assault is illegal, prosecute him in the legal system and if need be, the school can forbid him from setting foot on school property.

Just my opinion. Have a nice day.