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New Jersey just passed a law, slated to take affect January 1, 2010, that allows people who’ve lied in murder trials to no longer have the luxury of a statute of limitations to protect them should they get caught.  Currently, there are three states that have similar laws, including Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania.  One of the state’s representatives, Renny Cushing (NH-D), said, “It’s one thing if you give false information about somebody stealing a bike, it’s another thing if you give false information about somebody stealing somebody’s life.”  This Senate bill passed unanimously.

With the advances of DNA, it’s become easier to identify those who’ve committed crimes, thereby ensuring the ease in identifying those who provide false alibis or other untrue information to law enforcement.  The punishments will vary depending on one’s involvement of a murder, but the potential for jail time is great.  Law enforcement is hoping it will serve as a deterrent for those who might consider lying or provide alibis to those suspected of killing another.  Further, when enough evidence isn’t available for a murder conviction but law enforcement finds evidence that proves the suspect tampered with evidence, the law will allow for tougher sentences.

Currently, the crimes that qualify for the death penalty in New Jersey are first degree murder, being a leader of a narcotics/drug trafficking network that ordered a murder or murder committed through the commission of a terroristic attack.  Further, the death penalty isn’t applicable to anyone under the age of 18, regardless of his crime.

Renny Cushing is the founder and Executive Director of Murder Victims’ Families.  His father was murdered in 1988 by two shotgun blasts by a neighbor.  He’s also responsible for New Hampshire’s Victims Bill of Rights law, passed in 2001.

As mentioned, there are only a few states with similar laws; however, other states are expected to follow suit in the near future.

. Gary Condit

Our federal government now has time on its hands to go into the romance business.  Feeling reassured?  You’re not alone - most aren’t.  Politicians and fidelity go hand in hand about like Oprah Winfrey and the Texas cattle ranchers.  Consider those who’ve not put their marriages first, got busted and then had the whole sordid story unfold in the public eye:

Bill Clinton - Nine words: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman!”

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer - His call girl scandal caused him to resign as governor. 

Former New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey - Before being outed as a homosexual, he admitted to being “as avid a womanizer as anybody else on the New Jersey political scene”. 

Gary Condit - He was briefly a person of interest in the abduction of Chandra Levy in 2001 because of a romance between the two that he initially denied.  This ultimately ruined his career although he was never charged.  An imminent arrest, thanks to a DNA match, of a former gang member was announced in February 2009.

John Edwards - An admitted affair with a former campaign worker ended Mr. GQ’s political career.  As his wife struggles with cancer, he was working double-time to keep his affair secret and out of the media.  What’s even more bizarre is how this magically dropped out of the media spotlight just as it was heating up.

Former NY Governor Eliot Spitzer

These are just a few of the most recent scandals that come to mind.  Granted, I doubt the creation of the government’s website for Romance and Marriage 101 will have any of these fellows as guest commentators, but it’s almost laughable that those responsible for this new brainchild are actually managing to keep a straight face as the announcement is made of the five million dollars that will be used to bring this site live.  We can’t forget, either, the hundreds of other scandals our elected head honchoes find themselves in - including bribery, theft, DUIs, writing worthless checks - the list is endless.  And yes, they’re human…but they’re held far more accountable since they’re the ones breaking the very laws they’ve written.

Granted, there are major costs associated with divorce and single parents.  And most people agree with the sanctity of marriage, both morally and legally.  It just feels like a kick in the teeth to most us who’ve watched so many scandals, courtesy of politicians and lawmakers from every state, play out on the evening news day after day…after day.

There is another storm brewing too.  The gay community says it’s their tax dollars that will be contributing to this new program, yet they’re not given the option of marriage in this country. 

Public opinion is less than optimistic, to say the least.  The site, if you’re interested, is www.TwoOfUs.org

Heartland Payment Systems, a payments processing company in New Jersey, is trying to contain what might be the largest card/data breach in history.  Cybercriminals managed to hack the network and gained access to over 100 million credit card transactions, including access to the information-rich magnetic strips found on the back of credit and debit cards.  The transactions were from restaurants, retail stores and other businesses across the country.

The spin-doctors are alive and kicking from the looks of the statement released by the company’s public relations team.  It’s a bit contradictory, though.  The press release says in bold print, “No merchant information or cardholder social security numbers compromised.”, but then goes on to say it took both Visa and MasterCard to alert them of suspicious activity and it’s then they found the “intrusion” last month.  They also announced a number of steps they “further” took to secure its systems.  This suggests someone was asleep at the wheel if there were “further” steps that might should’ve been in place beforehand instead of as an afterthought; sort of the old “proactive approach” versus the “reactive approach”.  The press release then goes on to say no merchant data, unencrypted PINs (who gives their PIN to anyone?), addresses or phone numbers were involved.  This begs the question of just what exactly was involved?  Something had to be for it to merit its own webpage.

Heartland is working with the US Secret Service and Department of Justice as they investigate what’s being called a ‘widespread global cyber fraud operation’.  We’ve come to expect security breaches as part of the price we pay for the conveniences we enjoy in this fast paced society.  Gone are the days of panicking over a “last day to pay” note on our credit card bills.  With a few keystrokes, the payment’s made, credit scores are fine and no late penalties are incurred.  But 100 million transactions compromised? And no one noticed?  Not even in the middle of the tightest security season of the year?

In the meantime, Heartland reminds us of how they’re the founding support of the Merchant Bill of Rights and invites us to visit that site as well.  I’m sure everyone who has hokey charges, courtesy of some foreign art show that just charged their cards with a $15,000 hit for what’s described as Newton’s First Sculpture of Air as it Really is (or some other bizarre notation on their statement), will rush right over to that site to view this bill of rights.

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A New Jersey high school football coach, Marcus Borden, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court last Monday regarding his bowed head and kneeling on one knee during the prayers before football games. A rather vocal opponent, some spokesman representing the “school authorities”, says it’s nothing more than psychological coercion on the part of the coach, since students might feel obligated or pressured to pray even if they don’t believe in prayer.

There’s a difference in “faith” and “religion”. And doesn’t the First Amendment read something along the lines of the United States Congress prohibited from making laws respecting the establishment of religion? I could be wrong, but I don’t think the coach is a member of Congress - so I’m a little confused. We have to make concessions every single day in this country. Some of the concessions I make include following the speed limit - even when I disagree with it. Yeah, I know - I run the risk of getting a ticket. Well, I run the risk only when the day comes I can’t sweet talk my way out of a ticket. But that’s another story. My point is when did it get so convoluted and, well, wrong to have faith? What happened to the belief that two people could have different viewpoints regarding their faith and beliefs, but could still maintain a healthy respect for the other’s beliefs without it being wrong? My mom was raised as a strict Catholic - complete with Catechism classes, Mass and more than her fair share of Sisters with rulers, ready to rap knuckles at the drop of a hat. You should see her handwriting. It’s beautiful because of the importance of penmanship during the days of her Catholic school education. That said, she’s tried her best to make me understand why Confession is necessary and the importance of it in the Catholic faith. I respect that and I respect and trust her beliefs. We were fortunate to have been raised, even with my Dad’s Baptist upbringing and Mom’s Catholic upbringing to respect and honor the differences. The goal was to believe. Period. Have faith when none seemed to be found. Say your prayers. Have a healthy dose of fear.

And I can’t remember a single high school football game that didn’t begin with a prayer over the intercom - whether it was from my high school days or even more recently as my son’s high school days. It was never a problem and if there was anyone in attendance who disagreed, at no point was any disrespect shown to those who did choose to participate. I know this because no one in my hometown felt it necessary to go to court over it. Don’t get me wrong - I’m as faithful as one can be, but I’m not religious. And I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. My point is, with 95% of all high school sporting events beginning with prayer, it just seems insane to me for someone to refer to this New Jersey high school coach’s bowed head and kneeling as psychological coercion and further, it’s even crazier that the Supreme Court must be petitioned to decide this.

With so many other urgent matters that require the attention of the Justices in the Supreme Court, this shouldn’t be one of them.

All of the discontent regarding religious freedom, what’s appropriate and what’s not, where it’s OK to display and where it’s not, it can all be solved with one simple word: respect. Believe me, there’s never been a time I was ever pulled over that I thought I was wrong and the police officer believed he was wrong. But a healthy dose of respect sure took me farther (well, along with the sweet talk) and is the one reason my driving record is perfect.