Bob Smith on Crime

Republican Sr Senator (NH; retired 2002)

Support the Death Penalty

Q: Do you support or oppose the Death Penalty?

A: Support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 4, 2010

Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws

Q: Do you support or oppose Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws?

A: Support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 4, 2010

Punish swiftly & severely; including death penalty

America’s crime problem is one of my top concerns as a United States Senator. I believe that the best way to fight crime is with punishment that is swift, sure, and severe. I support the death penalty, and favor putting repeat violent offenders in jail and keeping them there - no parole, no early release - period. Source: Smith’s Senate Home Page Jul 2, 1999

Include violent crime victims in sentence policy-making

I introduced legislation to give victims of crime a greater voice in the sentencing of criminals. My bill requires that two of the seven seats on the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent entity within the judicial branch that establishes sentencing policies and practices for the Federal courts, be reserved for victims of violent crime. Source: Smith’s Senate Home Page Jul 2, 1999

Victim’s Bill of Rights: notification & restitution

In order to protect the rights of victims of violent crime, I have also cosponsored an amendment to the United States Constitution called the “Victim’s Bill of Rights,” which would grant victims of violent crimes the right to be notified of any public proceedings relating to the crime and to be notified of a criminal’s release or escape from custody and guarantee victims the right to seek restitution from the convicted offender. Source: Smith’s Senate Home Page Jul 2, 1999

Broaden use of death penalty; limit death row appeals

Sen. Smith supports broadening the use of the death penalty for federal crimes, and limiting the number of appeals allowed to inmates on death row. Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

More prisons; more full sentences; more boot camps

Build more federal prisons
Impose “truth in sentencing” for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole
“Boot camps” as alternative sentencing for adult first-time felons
Provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released
Deport all permanent resident aliens convicted of a felony

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Stricter visas & chemical tracing to fight terrorism

Require that chemical tracing agents be added to commercially-sold products that can be used to produce explosives.
Grant broader authority to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service to deny entrance visas to terrorist suspects.

Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Prosecute juvenile murderers as adults

Sen. Smith supports prosecuting youths accused of murder as adults. Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Voted NO on $1.15 billion per year to continue the COPS program.

Vote on an amendment to authorize $1.15 billion per year from 2000 through 2005 to continue and expand the Community Oriented Policing Services program. $600 million of the annual funding is marked for hiring additional officers [up to 50,000] Reference: Bill S.254 ; vote number 1999-139 on May 20, 1999

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. Reference: Bill S.735 ; vote number 1996-66 on Apr 17, 1996

Voted YES on limiting product liability punitive damage awards.

Approval of a limit on punitive damages in product liability cases.
Status: Conf Rpt Agreed to Y)59; N)40; NV)1 Reference: Conference Report on H.R. 956; Bill H. R. 956 ; vote number 1996-46 on Mar 21, 1996

Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits.

Restriction of class-action security lawsuits.
Status: Veto Overridden Y)68; N)30; P)1 Reference: H.R. 1058 passage over veto; Bill H.R. 1058 ; vote number 1995-612 on Dec 22, 1995

Voted YES on repealing federal speed limits.

Repeal federal speeding limits.
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)64; N)36 Reference: Motion to table Lautenberg Amdt #1428; Bill S. 440 ; vote number 1995-270 on Jun 20, 1995

Voted YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms.

Vote on the motion to instruct conferees on the bill to insist that the conference report include Mandatory prison terms for the use, possession, or carrying of a firearm or destructive device during a state crime of violence or drug trafficking Reference: Bill HR.3355 ; vote number 1994-126 on May 19, 1994

Voted YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals.

Vote to express that the Omnibus Crime bill [H.R. 3355] should reject the Racial Justice Act provisions, which would enable prisoners appealing death penalty sentences to argue racial discrimination using sentencing statistics as part of their appeal. Reference: Bill S 1935 ; vote number 1994-106 on May 11, 1994

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Page last updated: Nov 26, 2010