News Roundup

On Monday, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a bill that would make it a crime to knowingly import, transport, buy, sell, manufacture, or possess a child sex doll. According to proponents of the bill, the dolls resemble children 12 and younger and are used for sexual gratification (for all the Law & Order: SVU fans, this issue was illustrated in an episode of the current season). Depending on the circumstances, intent, and whether or not the doll is imported, a conviction could result in up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to $20,000. A number of other states have passed laws outlawing child sex dolls since 2019, including Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, South Dakota, and Tennessee. Safe storage of firearms in Rhode Island. On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Senate approved a bill regulating the safe storage of firearms when not in use. The bill requires all firearms to be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock when not being used by the owner or another authorized user. Under the bill, the unsafe storage of a firearm would be considered a civil offense that could be punished by a fine of up to $250 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second offense. Subsequent violations would be punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $500. Alabama debuts “Victim Notification System.” Alabama has rolled out a new online system to automatically notify crime victims when a state inmate is released, [...]