Sweeping legislation that would keep felons locked up after a third violent offense won approval Thursday from a Kentucky House committee that heard mixed opinions about its potential to combat crime. The measure has emerged as a top priority this year in the Republican-dominated House. The proposal cleared the House Judiciary Committee after a long and emotional hearing. Lawmakers heard heart-wrenching testimony from people who lost loved ones as a result of violent crimes, reports the Associated Press. “With this bill, we are reasserting some basic and simple truths, and that is that criminals — not society — are accountable for their actions,” said Republican Rep. Jared Bauman, the bill’s lead sponsor. “And society has the right to protect itself from the criminal element.”
Critics raised doubts about whether the measure would make a dent in crime. They said it fails to address the many complex causes of criminal activity. “It is not going to deter criminals who are going to do those crimes because we are not addressing any of these underlying reasons for those crimes in this bill,” said Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni. The bill advanced on a 13-5 committee vote and heads to the full House. In a clear sign of the bill’s popularity, its cosponsors total slightly more than half of the chamber’s entire membership. A key component of the bill is its three-strikes provision. People convicted of three violent felonies would face life in prison. The bill would increase penalties for several other crimes as well. Democratic Rep. Keturah Herron expressed doubts that the tougher provisions would make people safer. “No time in the state of Kentucky, or in our nation, have we been able to incarcerate ourselves out of any issue — ever,” Herron said.