Prop. 83 is too costly

Re “Sex crime residency laws exile offenders,” Oct. 30

Your article on the problems Iowa has experienced with its version of Jessica’s Law is indicative of knee-jerk reactions voters have when they haven’t fully thought out the consequences of their decision. A good example is when voters passed California’s three-strikes law. Many thought they were voting to lock up repeat offenders who had committed a violent third strike. Now we know that the third strike for some turns out to be petty theft. Prisons must now have skilled nursing wards to serve inmates who are too disabled to be a threat to anyone.

Proposition 83 would cost more than the benefits it would achieve. Many of the sex offenders who are the target of this proposition would no longer report their whereabouts. The cost of those who do register would become prohibitive.

GREG BRISTOL

Santa Barbara