In Washington state the annual legislative focus is on crime. Republicans obsess about it, and Democrats pile on to show they aren't creampuffs.

So far as we observe the workings of our new state legislature, the local Greenville members' obsessions seems to be sex. Exhibit A:

"A proposed 20% sin tax on porn magazines would be used to help manage sex offenders. Republican State Senator Mike Fair of Greenville proposed the tax. He says taxing magazines like Playboy, Penthouse and Hustler could raise about $385,000. Fair wants the money to do to the state Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole to manage sex offenders."

Exhibit B:

(What will members do evenings when the legislature is in session if we pass this?)

"Strippers in the Palmetto State are safe for now.

"The House Judiciary Committee essentially suffocated a regulatory measure Tuesday, heartily agreeing on a voice vote to hand the bill off to a different committee for more study.

"Some attending the meeting joked the bill is unlikely ever to be heard from again this year.

"I hope that's not the case," said Rep. Garry Smith, R-Greenville, who introduced two amendments to the bill, which is designed to regulate adult businesses in the state.

"The bill would have mandated a distance rule between strippers and patrons in clubs, and also set closing hours for such clubs at midnight. Smith's amendments, deemed unclear and as "overkill" by some committee members, would have made each incidence of a patron coming closer than six feet to a working club employee or of touching the working employee, a separate violation.

"That meant patrons and employees each could accumulate thousands of dollars in fines in one visit to an establishment on a given day or night, and be subject to years of imprisonment.

"Smith's other amendment would have made it a misdemeanor violation against the club or establishment if the business operator "knowingly and willfully" allowed such violations to occur.

"I think this is a reasonable approach in addressing these kinds of issues, that communities will stand behind," Smith said, asserting that crime is an element that often follows such adult-oriented businesses as strip clubs."

Elsewhere, public safety looms large in legislators' thinking:

"The House has approved a bill allowing lawmakers with concealed weapons permits to keep guns in their cars on State House property.

"Weapons are not ordinarily permitted at the State House complex.

"The bill would not allow weapons in the State House chambers."

Thanks to SC Politics Today for that. We feel safer already.

Finally at the local level, five year olds on the coast could be looking at hard time:

Isle of Palms considers making beachgoers knock down sand castles

When they leave: Violators face tickets from $128 to $500

The Associated Press
Published: Monday, March 31, 2008 | Updated: 10:41 am

ISLE OF PALMS — Beachgoers who build sand castles on the Isle of Palms would have to knock them down before they leave under a proposal being considered by the City Council.

The proposal is part of a broader ordinance requiring people on the beach to pick up tents, coolers and surfboards as well as filling in any holes dug in the sand.

Violators could get a ticket ranging from $128 to $500.

City Councilman Ryan Buckhannon told The (Charleston) Post and Courier that the goal of the proposal is to keep the beach safe by keeping tourists from leaving items and large holes behind.

A police officer recently fell into a hole and twisted an ankle, while Councilman Michael Loftus said he has heard of couples hurting themselves while walking on the beach at night.

But enforcement of the sand castle rule may be impossible. Police said they would have to see the castle from the moment someone starts to build it, then catch the person as they left the beach.

Photo of South Padre Island, TX's Alderman Fred Mallett's entry at a 2004 Masters sand sculpture contest in Port Angeles, WA. His piece, pictured above, featured lots and lots of fish eating -- and being eaten.

Vacationers aren't too keen on the idea either. “I'd laugh at them,” said Todd Brower, who sculpted a mound of sand with a spade. “I've never heard of such a thing. If I was fined for leaving a hole, I would never come back. I'd just go to Sullivans Island.”

Steve Lussier's children were rolling in a hole as he enjoyed the sand.

“Someone has too much time on their hands,” he said. “Police have got better things to do than sand castle enforcement.”