Why Don't All States Have A Murder and Violent Offender Registry Like Illinois?

You buy a new house. You are incredibly excited and cannot wait to move in. Wouldn't you want to know if a convicted violent offender lived right next door? We have a national sex offender registry. We have strictly enforced rules for them. Why is Illinois the only state with a convicted murder/violent offender against youth registry? I will tell you why. In 1998, my friend was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend. She was only 18 years of age. The murderer got convicted to only 24 years for first-degree murder and because of his good behavior, he only served about 12 years. He served 12 years for cold blooded murder of an innocent girl who just did not want to be his girlfriend anymore. When he got released, he was in his early 30's, got married, and moved to beautiful Hawaii. He gets to live the rest of his life, have children, Christmas, birthdays, and be known as Joe Schmo, your next door neighbor. Andrea, the girl he so callously murdered, doesn't get that luxury. Her family doesn't get that luxury. Her mother decided to do something about it. Andrea's mother worked tirelessly to pass a law that makes murderers and violent offenders against youth have to do what sex offenders have to do, register. This law is only passed in Illinois. It is beautifully titled "Andrea's Law". These offenders have to register for 10 years after they get released from prison. All statistics say that prisoners are very likely to wind up back in prison and are repeat offenders, so why not keep a closer eye on them? This bill protects families from potentially dangerous offenders and educates them if an offender is in their area. Just like the sex offender registry, you can go to the website (http://www.isp.state.il.us/cmvo/personlist.cfm) and find out if there are any dangerous men or women living in your area. So why haven't more states followed suit? Why wouldn't more states look at Illinois and decide that is a great idea? I think any parent would love to know if their children or they themselves are dating, married to, or living next to a convicted murderer or a violent person against youth. I think the public of other states should be outraged that no other legislators have looked at this law Illinois has passed and decided they would like that in their state as well. Hopefully other states have a wonderful woman like Andrea's mother to shake the trees and scream from the rooftops to make this happen. This doesn't just happen overnight. When the public starts screaming the State Senators start to listen. Write your State Senators. Start a petition. Start doing 5k runs against domestic violence, make a donation at your nearest shelter. Every little bit helps. Take a stand and don't just sit idly by while violent offenders roam the streets in your town. There are things that can be done, follow in the footsteps of the mothers, fathers, and families who make things happen. Keep your streets and families safe.