Washington Votes Forum

My name is Lisa Moore.  My family and I are the ones trying to get this bill passed. My brother Randall Lee Ferguson was murdered. You can read more about our story on my website www.randys-law.com This is the second year trying to get this bill passed.  I know alot of people put comments on this sight last year but I need you to do it again this year. Its a new session and new bill number.  These comments get read and can make a real impact. My brothers killer is locked up for 26 years but her two aduult children who rendered criminal assistance were not held accountable because of this law.  They are the very reason we want this law changed.  Because it was their mother that killed they got away with their crimes which included covering up a crime scene, disposing of a  dead body and stuffing it in the trunk of a car,destroying evidence,lying to police, ect. They received no prison time because they were related to the murderer. This makes no sense. They were charged with a gross misdemeanor and got a few months community service. With the new bill it would not only have an age limit of 18 ( there is no age limit on it right now) It would be a felony. As a family when Angela Ferguson murdered my brother apart of us died. To know there are people out there that participated before,during and after my brothers murder is a heartache I could never explain. This bill is in his honor and could  save other lives.  We all should be held accountable for our actions at the age of 18 and even if a family member does the unthinkable we should have a conscience and come forward and do the right thing.  I want to believe most people know how to do this.  Finding out about this law was an additional pain we should never had to endure. We want to prevent other families from this injustice.  In any other crime you would be held accountable. We believe my brothers step-children should be in prison with their mother. Please pass this bill on to all you know.  Thank you

I totally agree...Bill 1203 or Randys law definitely needs to be passed.

How would the State Legislators feel if someone they love got killed intentionally by a family member without suffering virtually any accountability?

Mark

My name is Dawn Patterson and I agree 110% with changing this law! My family will not rest in tell this law is changed and we hope with the the support of our family and friends that someone will hear us and this bill will be passed!! Please support bill 1203 "Randys Law"

Thank you

Dawn Patterson

Randy's little sister

 I agree whole heartedly that this bill 1203 should be passed. Our law says that some one has to be a certain age to buy to cigaretts or be a certain age to drive a car, and it baffles me that  there is no law saying how old you need to be to become accountable for participating in a murder. The reason we have laws is to maintan order in our society. I see no future order in this area of our justice system. We are constantly fighting against abused children and wanting them to be part of the future yet at the same time we are leaving open doors for these children to not only hurt themselves, but others too. We need to stop this imediatley. My heart goes out to all of the families that have had to endure this pain. Thank You

Christina.

 I had no idea the Washington had such a rediculous law on the books that allowed a family member who aided in the commission of a crime not to be held accountable, regardless of age.  Too may family members of victums of violent crimes have to sit and watch the criminal's family member walk and go scott free and not be held accountalbe for their actions.  Criminals must love this law, heck, have the entire family help murder and dispose of a body and only one person has to pay for the crime.  That is a crime in it's self. 

I am happy to support Randy's law, House Bill #1203 and encourage all the legislators to vote to encact this law ASAP. 

Dorna Kuhn

Hi! We are the parents of Randy,we want this Bill #1203 to be passed,this is a MUST. 
GOD BLESS everyone.

Don Jo Anne Ferguson Family 

My Name is Kristen Walz,

    I am Angela Ferguson Daughter and Randys Step Daughter. I think this bill should be passed. The descision that they made changed my life forever. I think that the descisions people make they should have to deal with and suffer the consequences.  Please who ever is reading this understand that this was a crime that should not have been taken lightly. As the daughter and sister of all people who was involved. PLEASE PASS THIS BILL.

 Please approve Randy's Law. This law approves to be fair and upholds the justice system. 

Phillip

 I am from valdosta ga. If this would have happen there they would have gotten life. how can you let someone go who help with killing someone? That is the craziest thing I ever heard. People who do things like that are dangers to the world at any time they can snap. please pass this law.

 Pass this law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it not fascinating that some members of our legislature can conceive of a grandparent who is under 18 years of age.  If the child of a parent under 18 is old enough to commit this kind of crime we have come to a sorry state.

I did a little research (namely looking at the sections of the law referenced herein.)  Basically, helping a murderer or perpetrator of certain crimes is a felony.  HOWEVER, if you are a relative there is a section (b) which says it is only a misdemeanor.  By changing the definition of a relative to be under 18, it would mean that adults (over 18) would no longer qualify for this exception.

I have two problems with the bill as written.  First, I think it is a bad idea to change definitions of terms that we all know to mean something that is abnormal.  (In this case we are saying you are no longer a relative after you turn 18.  There is no logic to that so I would think it better to change the existing law "9A.76.070.2(b) Rendering criminal assistance in the first degree is a gross misdemeanor if it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor is a relative as defined in RCW 9A.76.060". by adding " who was a minor at the time the criminal assistance was rendered."  One could use "under 18 years of age" instead of "minor" but I would hope that a competent district attorney might attempt to prove that some 17 year old might be adult enough to understand what he was doing.

My second problem is with the idea that we let kids off at all.  If a minor/juvenile were convicted under the law as written, would he/she not be released at the age of 21 anyway (with no adult criminal record) whether he or she had committed a misdemeanor ro a felony?  If section 2 of 9A.76.070 and 9A.76.080 were simply changed to say "rendering criminal assistance in the first degree is a class C felony" with no exceptions, I think we could get essentially the same effect (and simplify the law at the same time.)