Numerous states and localities have passed, or are considering, such anti-sex offender zoning laws. They might want to look at Iowa, however, where the unintended consequences of a recently passed keep-away law are starting to manifest themselves.
Since Iowa's law took effect last summer, the Des Moines Register reports, twice as many sex offenders have gone missing. It used to be that law enforcement couldn't find 1 in 46 sex offenders. Now 1 of every 20 are unaccounted for -- and that's a conservative estimate.
Now the people in charge of prosecuting the law -- county attorneys -- say that it needs to be completely overhauled. It "does not provide the protection that was originally intended," according to the Iowa County Attorneys Association.
Republicans who control the Iowa legislature are skeptical. Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack is taking the complaints seriously, but bluntly stated the political danger of appearing in any way soft on such heinous criminals. "We ought to have an agreement that this is not going to be the subject of a postcard 48 hours before an election," Vilsack said.
