harrisonsdream
05-29-2007, 10:35 AM
Bill would ban inmates from selling murderabilia
By CHRISTINA M. WRIGHT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Harriet Semander found out on a Febuary morning in 1982 that her 20-year-old daughter, Elena, was not only dead, but had been strangled, hog-tied and thrown into a Dumpster. She was the fifth of 13 women to meet an early death at the hands of Coral Eugene Watts.
In late 2004, after 22 years of battling old Texas laws that could have led to Watts' release, the Semander family celebrated upon learning he would spend his life in prison. They could now begin the healing process.
But, in 2006, Harriet Semander Googled Watts' name to find out if he was part of a new trend — murderabilia or the industry of selling online the items of convicted murderers. She discovered a letter written by Watts up for auction on eBay.
"It opens up a wound," she said. "Just when I think I have erased Coral Watts' face from my mind and I can think of my daughter without seeing his face too, here we go again."
At the Harris County courthouse this morning, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, will announce new legislation that aims to cripple the murderabilia industry and protect victims' rights.
The federal bill is part of a longtime campaign by Andy Kahan, director of the Mayor's Crime Victims Office to curtail the sale of such murderabilia. While Kahan was successful in 2001 of convincing eBay of stopping the sale of murderabilia on its site, other online dealers started appearing. This bill would target those Web sites.
"The filing and subsequent passing of this historical legislation should ultimately eradicate this insidious, despicable industry that has preyed on innocent victims for far too long," Kahan said.
The legislation, if made a federal law, would prohibit anyone in state or federal prison to mail or deliver any property, object, or article with intent that it be sold.
"What will eventually happen, if you remove the profit — the incentive for criminals - the industry will begin to die out," Kahan said.
The practice of selling murderabilia has been around for ages, "it's no one knew about it," Kahan said. The items for sale have included everything from foot scrapings to artwork.
Although Kahan some convinced states to enact laws against murderabilia, such legislation was limited because of First Amendment constraints.
A month ago, Kahan met with Cornyn to ask for his support in pushing a federal law. The legislation being introduced today must still go through a list of hearings to educate Congress, and then be voted on by the Senate and House of Representatives. However, Cornyn is confident it will not meet any obstacles.
"This is the kind of thing that, when people hear this, it will shock their consciences," he said.
As part of his daily work, Kahan tracks those Web sites that sell and auction murderabilia. The top price he's seen paid for an items is $10,000. And the most listed convicted murderer is Charles Manson.
By CHRISTINA M. WRIGHT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
Harriet Semander found out on a Febuary morning in 1982 that her 20-year-old daughter, Elena, was not only dead, but had been strangled, hog-tied and thrown into a Dumpster. She was the fifth of 13 women to meet an early death at the hands of Coral Eugene Watts.
In late 2004, after 22 years of battling old Texas laws that could have led to Watts' release, the Semander family celebrated upon learning he would spend his life in prison. They could now begin the healing process.
But, in 2006, Harriet Semander Googled Watts' name to find out if he was part of a new trend — murderabilia or the industry of selling online the items of convicted murderers. She discovered a letter written by Watts up for auction on eBay.
"It opens up a wound," she said. "Just when I think I have erased Coral Watts' face from my mind and I can think of my daughter without seeing his face too, here we go again."
At the Harris County courthouse this morning, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, will announce new legislation that aims to cripple the murderabilia industry and protect victims' rights.
The federal bill is part of a longtime campaign by Andy Kahan, director of the Mayor's Crime Victims Office to curtail the sale of such murderabilia. While Kahan was successful in 2001 of convincing eBay of stopping the sale of murderabilia on its site, other online dealers started appearing. This bill would target those Web sites.
"The filing and subsequent passing of this historical legislation should ultimately eradicate this insidious, despicable industry that has preyed on innocent victims for far too long," Kahan said.
The legislation, if made a federal law, would prohibit anyone in state or federal prison to mail or deliver any property, object, or article with intent that it be sold.
"What will eventually happen, if you remove the profit — the incentive for criminals - the industry will begin to die out," Kahan said.
The practice of selling murderabilia has been around for ages, "it's no one knew about it," Kahan said. The items for sale have included everything from foot scrapings to artwork.
Although Kahan some convinced states to enact laws against murderabilia, such legislation was limited because of First Amendment constraints.
A month ago, Kahan met with Cornyn to ask for his support in pushing a federal law. The legislation being introduced today must still go through a list of hearings to educate Congress, and then be voted on by the Senate and House of Representatives. However, Cornyn is confident it will not meet any obstacles.
"This is the kind of thing that, when people hear this, it will shock their consciences," he said.
As part of his daily work, Kahan tracks those Web sites that sell and auction murderabilia. The top price he's seen paid for an items is $10,000. And the most listed convicted murderer is Charles Manson.