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John McCain
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"Today's Supreme Court ruling is an assault on law enforcement's efforts to punish these heinous felons for the most despicable crime. That there is a judge anywhere in America who does not believe that the rape of a child represents the most heinous of crimes, which is deserving of the most serious of punishments, is profoundly disturbing."
Voted YES on A bill to provide for the imposition of the death penalty for the terrorist murder of United States nationals abroad.
Question: On Passage of the Bill (S.1798 ) Vote Number: 275, Vote Date: October 26, 1989
McCain supports the following principles regarding crime:Broaden use of the death penalty: -Impose stricter penalties for violent felons -Increase spending to build more federal prisons -Impose "truth in sentencing" for violent criminals so they serve full sentences -Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released. -Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000
Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals. Vote to table, or kill, a motion to send the bill back to the joint House-Senate conference committee with instructions to delete the provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners given the death penalty in state courts to appeal.
Bill S.735 ; vote number 1996-66 on Apr 17, 1996
"Senator McCain supports the strongest possible prosecution and penalties for all those who commit violent crimes no matter what the intent, and believes that all victims of violent crime should have their cases treated with equal urgency under the law. He does not support federal legislation to assert federal jurisdiction over crimes that are rightfully under the jurisdiction of state criminal justice systems that are perfectly capable of dealing with these violent criminal acts. Moreover, federalization would delay justice by litigating such heinous crimes through federal courts that are already overburdened."
"As a result of Congressional mandates and court actions, the government [may be] unable to routinely monitor organizations that foment hate and violence. Certainly, protecting civil rights must remain sacrosanct. However, we must not allow the First Amendment to be abused as a shield for those who advocate or conspire to commit acts of violence. Organizations who are legitimately suspected of criminal or violent activities should not be shielded from legitimate & vigorous investigation and monitoring."
Letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee Aug 13, 1999
With regards to "hate crimes," he says, "All but 13 states have hate crimes statutes. Federalizing all such crimes will simply obstruct justice by forcing them into clogged federal courts."
Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000
McCain indicates that federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs should be expanded. He says, "Work to expand public/private partnerships in support of such initiatives, and coordinate them with state and local efforts."
Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000
Q: How do you reconcile the tolerance for alcohol with the intolerance for marijuana? A: I can't support the legalization of marijuana. Scientific evidence indicates that the moment that it enters your body, one, it does damage, and second, it can become addictive. It is a gateway drug. There is a problem in American with alcohol abuse, and there's no doubt about that. We have to do whatever we can to - prevention, education, and that applies to drugs too.
Republican Debate at Dartmouth College Oct 29, 1999
McCain introduced the "Addiction Free Treatment Act" (S.423), which prohibits the use of funds for any drug treatment or rehabilitation program that uses methadone or other heroin detoxification agents unless the program follows specified guidelines, including that the program has as its primary objective the elimination of drug addiction and that it conducts random and frequent comprehensive drug testing for all narcotics.
Senate statements S.423 Feb 11, 1999
McCain indicated he supported the following stance on the Project Vote Smart PNAT in 1998: -Increase penalties for selling illegal drugs -Impose mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs -Impose capital punishment for convicted international drug traffickers -Strengthen current laws dealing with non-controlled substances, including inhalants and commercially available pills
Project Vote Smart, 1998, www.vote-smart.org Jul 2, 1998
Voted YES to impose minimum, mandatory prison sentences for firearm violations, other violent crimes, and drug crimes.
"I also think we ought to do something you may approve of and that is first time offenders ought not to be imprisoned, I think they should be given the opportunity for rehab. In Arizona we have a program, first time offenders--abusers--they can go through a rehab program where there is frequent testing. If they complete that they can go forward with their lives."
McCain introduced the "Addiction Free Treatment Act" (S.423), which prohibits the use of funds for any drug treatment or rehabilitation program that uses methadone or other heroin detoxification agents unless the program follows specified guidelines, including that the program has as its primary objective the elimination of drug addiction and that it conducts random and frequent comprehensive drug testing for all narcotics.
Senate statements S.423 Feb 11, 1999
"I also think we ought to do something you may approve of and that is first time offenders ought not to be imprisoned, I think they should be given the opportunity for rehab. In Arizona we have a program, first time offenders--abusers--they can go through a rehab program where there is frequent testing. If they complete that they can go forward with their lives."
McCain indicates that federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs should be expanded. He says, "Work to expand public/private partnerships in support of such initiatives, and coordinate them with state and local efforts."
Vote-Smart.org 2000 NPAT Jan 13, 2000