On April 14, 2014, A national coalition of members of CURE, CURE-SORT, FAC, USA Fair and WAR members joined together to ask Florida legislators, “Why are the many children and families of former offenders being placed in danger from missed opportunities of effective legislation?” “Are the children of citizens on the sex offender registry less valuable to law makers?” Nearly four full years later, we are still awaiting a satisfactory answer.
As of May 24, 2017, there were 69,917 people listed on the Florida state sex offender registry and the number grows daily. Legislators have neglected to accept the fact that registered citizens have families and children who are also affected by these restrictive laws and become victims of vigilante crimes, harassment, community ostracism and detrimental restrictions placed on them.
Legislators won’t withdraw or lessen any laws against sex offenders just because it is the right thing to do. They would lose their positions as their opponents jump on the opportunity to paint them as soft on child molesters.
The only way the legislation will act in our favor is if the courts give them the excuse they need. Without some wins in Florida in the courts, legislators won’t budge.