Votes are now being taken from the public regarding H.R. 515, International Megan’s Law, on a website that will report the votes to members of Congress. It is important for registered citizens, family members and supporters to cast their vote. As of the writing of this article, 59 percent of the public supports the bill and 41 percent opposes the bill. We can change that tally dramatically by clicking on the link below. It’s easy to do and will take less than 5 minutes. Please ask your family members, friends and colleagues to vote as well.
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Thanks, did it.
Voted and posted my opposition. It’s easy and quick. Look at all the no votes in the last 20 minutes! In the 10 minutes it took for me vote and type my reasons, it went from majority supported to majority opposed! Thanks everyone. Thanks Janice and all CA RSOL for keeping us on our toes to fight these unfair laws.
Just voted No and posted comment……….
I have also emailed Obama, as follows:
I am a registered “sex offender” whose case was adjudicated nearly 30 years ago. I served five years in prison, three years on parole, was discharged from parole and have not committed any crimes, either in the U.S. or abroad, since.
Shortly after leaving prison, I started a small, high-tech manufacturing company since that was the only way I could find work, i.e. to employ myself. I built that company up over many years and found that most of my customers were located in foreign countries. To serve my customer base required that I travel to those countries, primarily to attend trade shows but also to meet with existing customers and to help them to integrate my company’s products into their own industrial facilities.
For nearly three years now I have been unable to travel because of the advance notification program already in place (the IML bill simply adds to and solidifies notifications policies implemented several years ago). As a result, I have been completely prevented from traveling outside of the United States, where 80% of my customers are located, and my once-profitable, American, company is now losing money. Since the implementation of this policy, I have been trying desperately to forestall my company’s liquidation. My American employees will soon lose their jobs if I am unable to save the company.
My story may not accord with what many believe must be the marginal contours along which registered sex offenders exist (indeed, are expected to exist), but I can assure you that many of us have been contributing handsomely to this country’s economy through our taxes and our enterprise.
This regime of enforced internal exile cannot help the U.S. to be a better or more competitive economy, let alone a functioning democracy for which basic rules of fairness and decency are still meaningful.
The notification program is particularly cynical in that it purports to simply notify foreign governments of a U.S. citizen’s criminal background as a sex offender.
In practice, however (and this is known as many of the current bill’s elements are already in place), these notifications have the effect of preventing citizen Registrants from leaving the U.S., altogether. Indeed, the Bill’s author, Christopher Smith of New Jersey, openly states, and flagrantly intends, that this law incapacitates Registrants and renders them unable to travel.
There are many legitimate reasons for people to travel, as you well know, including bringing together families and friends who are often separated by international boundaries.
Registrants possess those same reasons to travel as you and every other American. To further marginalize us through a due-process-free regimen of enforced internal exile clearly violates principles of ex post facto punishment and our rights to freedom of movement.
I urge you to not let this horrendous law be your presidency’s legacy.
Done deal with comment posted
Just voted NO myself. I will also ask friends to vote no as well.
Did it. Good site by the way!
Just a quick question. Is everyone who is signing up for an account there using their real name and address? Obviously because of the nature of the bill, I’m not anxious to have my real information available publicly. Does it ask you for a screen name later on in the sign-up process?
Sorry, and thanks!
We made a difference! In less than 24 hours, the percentage of voters changed from 29 percent in opposition to this bill to 71 percent in opposition nationwide. And in California, 93 percent are opposed! Congratulations to all who have voted!! For those who have not voted, please do so today. The tables could turn again.
From Florida here and just voted to oppose. There are more yellow opposing dots on the map than the Green ones supporting it. If you look at the reasons why people are supporting this, they are very short and absurd as compared to the reasons people are opposing it which are lengthy and good. I will get more people to oppose it today.
I just voted, and will encourage my program members to as well.
I noticed that two people just recently supported it on the popvox page and the site counted them 2x. 2 supported posts got 4 tallies. Opposed votes seem to get 1 tally as it should. That’s suspicious. But even with that tactic our side, the opposing side is ahead 79% to 21% as of this comment’s writing.
I was wondering how well these votes are being considered by those Representatives in Congress? Are these votes something they have to take into account? I’m doubting that they would think about cancelling the Bill at this point correct? It would seem to me that it would require “work” for those Representatives to completely re-write the Bill that has already passed the House and Senate.
I know it is very frustrating to keep writing and telephoning all these people in challenges of all these RC hate laws. However, every time we write/call we are educating and this elephant will be eaten.
Just voted to oppose
All polls can influence politicians. But that doesn’t mean that any poll or voter’s opinion will be listened to and followed.
“59% of the public supports the bill.” Can’t say I’m the least bit surprised. Pandering to fear and emotion is a powerful thing, as we know all too well. It seems so hopeless given that the majority of the voting public still believes in the myth of “frightening and high” recidivism rates.
I’m losing hope. I really am. Someone please tell me that the pendulum is at least beginning to swing the other way.
Having said that, my family is writing in opposition of this bill.
Would be nice if people could click the right button. Just on the front page of comments I can see that there are two people who are opposed, but actually clicked Support. C’mon folks!
Those of you who haven’t written your letters of opposition yet should read this first, and maybe include it as part of your opposition. Very soon it may be required for us to have a passport to fly even domestically. This has been brought up here before, but I think with HR515 looming it’s worth re-visiting:
http://www.travelpulse.com/news/airlines/why-you-could-soon-need-a-passport-for-domestic-flights.html
I added my opposing vote and comments.
For the first time in my 4 and half years on gps parole, I voted and voiced my opinion. After seeing the examples set tirelessly by Janice and group, I know it was the right thing to do. Thank you to everyone on keeping up the righteous cause. I’m humbled and in awe.
This may not go over to well but my thoughts are RSOL national should really be more involved In California and Texas, it seems over half of the votes came from these 2 states which proves they have the most active members, the way these 2 states go would be the way of the nation. This certainly is not any disrespect for other states and yes I understand that they (CA, TX) also have the largest RC population but still the active members are still way too low for the overall number in America, what can be done to get more involved nationwide? Something else I notice is that some of the funds go for inmates letters, which is a good cause but I would think more should be used for the fight so once the people are out of prison their life could be better. And what is the main goal for RSOL? Are we as a group just fighting restrictions etc or are we going to ever fight the registry which IMO is the problem. Just talking out loud to get some input.
Has approaching a film maker and suggesting a documentary been discussed. Many of the educated and affluent in society have strong feelings on these absurd laws. Approaching the subject like this; history, facts, miss information, and false hysteria could get a public dialogue going. The nut cases will always be there. I call them the “Jerry Falwells”, but all avenues need to be approached.
thank you
I know that we have been talking a lot about the “Passport Identifier” that was part of the modification of International Megan’s Law. It would appear that NY has attempted to do the same thing with Drivers Licenses.
Bill S02944 (search http://assembly.state.ny.us/)
Requires state driver’s licenses to indicate whether the holder is a registered
sex offender; makes additional amendments regarding sex offender registration
obligations and dissemination of information.