VERNON, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – The Vernon City Council is in the process of adopting an ordinance that would prohibit sex offenders and predators from living in the city limits.
Both Bonifay and Chipley have adopted a similar ordinance, causing more offenders to move into Vernon.
“It was actually recommended by our attorney because she has been working with other communities who are adopting the ordinances and so she said it would be a good idea for us to address the issue,” Vernon mayor Tina Sloan said.
Sloan said seven sex offenders live in Vernon, but not all of them reside in the city limits.
Those already living within the city limits will be “grandfathered in.”
“If you already live in the city limits and you change addresses, you relocate inside the city limits, those will be addressed on a case-by-case basis with the council,” Sloan said.
Related Links:
Let’s show Vernon Florida some opposition [floridaactioncommittee.org]! [added 3/7/18]
I’ve always wondered from where does a municipality think that it derives the right to determine who can and cannot live within its borders? No one has ever been able to show me anywhere in a town charter (or other similar document) where a municipality was given the authority to pick and choose its citizens.
Ah, but does it say anywhere that they can’t? When it comes to laws and ordinances, anything and everything can be done unless there’s something specifically stating that it can’t, and even then it can still be done and would go into effect until such time as its challenged and struck down by the courts. They can seriously write something in to force you to wear a name tag advertising that you’re an RC and it would be up to you (or someone else) to first challenge it.
Good point! So this is also a “takings” issue in which the city government is denying a property owner the right to occupy their property or to have it occupied with a person of their choosing.
I have a real good idea! Why dont they ban ALL sex offenders from ALL cities in Fl?
Isnt this a great idea? Then they (policy makers) can move on to another state and start banning them there from all the cities as well!!!!
These people ought to be thanked for their stupidity because fortunately for us it’s dumb ordinances and laws like this that are moving us forward in the court rooms. So come on dumb asses, keep setting em up and we’ll keep Knocking You down and LOVING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have an idea. People are leaving Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 in droves. We can have our own country.(Australia). We can make our own laws and we can create our own commerce. Bacardi is there and that would be a good start. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@HOOKSCAR:
Have you been peeking into the scary depths of my mind? Somehow you managed to read the exact thoughts I’ve recently had–and am considering. Especially enticing with real estate being on “fire sale” due to everyone leaving and the place having been shredded by Hurricane Irma.
It was hard to read after the first sentence. It would “prohibit sex offenders and predators”. I guess pedophiles are excluded. I thought these articles have to include these names as they are synonymous to each other.
Sex Offender, predators, and pedophiles are NOT at all the same thing. At least not in Wisconsin, and I’m sure in other states, there are legal distinctions between the first two. The third is more a diagnosis than a legal status. In Wisconsin anyone convicted of a sex crime is a ‘sex offender’, but to be a ‘predator’ requires a separate finding by a court after you complete your sentence.
All sex offender rules apply to ‘sex offenders’ and to ‘predators’, but those deemed to be ‘predators’ have an additional set of rules and restrictions.
If one is convicted of a crime against a victim below a specific age it will also make you a ‘child sex offender’, but there is no requirement that one actually be a pedophile to have a victim under the specific age.
Personally, I read some sarcasm in The Unforgiven’s post…
Sarcasm, and apparently went over your head. There is NOTHING you need to explain to me, since we’re using all caps. Good day though.
Apologies if my explanation offended – that was not my intention. Since we don’t have any ongoing interaction it’s hard to tell who has knowledge on the subject and who does not.
My comments were meant more for those that didn’t already know the difference. I see many comments on local news sites that confuse the various issues, which was why I posted. Around here, there are distinctly different laws that affect ‘sex offenders’ and ‘predators’, but the news sites and most people use the terms interchangeably.
Again, sorry to have misunderstood your comments.
Let’s have our annual meeting in Florida!!!!
Let’s not.
“When we call for public participation, there hasn’t been any objections,” Sloan said.
^But that doesn’t mean this “public safety” measure (which amounts to banishment, discrimination and retaliation) is legal and constitutionally sound. But hey! Other communities are doing it and getting by with it, we need to play catch up! smh..
If the 3 branches of government are equal, why is the judicial branch reactive and not proactive? Why doesn’t a law need a judicial review before it is implemented and not only after someone has been harmed and sues?
This allows the other 2 branches to make any law they want. And, it will go into effect until many Years later.
I agree. I think that all proposed laws should have to undergo judicial scrutiny before they are passed. Maybe someday.
Hmm, wasn’t there a SCOTUS case that addressed the lives of RCs, saying there was no indications of traditional punishment such as banishment? Smith v. somebody or other, if I recall correctly. Whew, I’m glad things have stood pat on that front! Then there’s also that crazy notion of Equal Protection something or other.
If it’s regulatory, why is there a need for grandfathering current residents? It certainly cannot be due to goodwill.
This is such a blatant constitutional violation, even the crooked judges of FL will rule against it (holding their noses, of course).
Wouldn’t it fantastic if they didn’t though? I mean, terrible for those directly impacted by this but oh so wonderful for this to reach SCOTUS.
Apparently there is no Price Club in Vernon, Florida.
Florida is really pushing it, just treating SO’s like unwanted trash. There are entire homeless communities that probation tells people to live there, with no running water, no toilets, no trash collection. That is because the city ordinances imposed by those who became millionaires raping the land and building million dollar condos have money to sway the law and have some peculiar hidden vendetta. So there is nowhere an SO can live except under a few specified bridges, and everyone seems to be ok with this. It is totally inhumane. These people paid their debt. They did their time, there is no evidence that they are reoffending or possibly will. Youtube the homeless camps in Florida and meet the disgusting man who takes delight in how he was able to coerce the legislation to be sure SO’s live in filthy, squalid, unhealthy, inhumane conditions, AFTER they serve their time in custody, and for the rest of their lives, because they can’t leave either. How can this continue? How are these humans of any less than any other person that commits a crime? Selling drugs to children or robbing are store with a gun is hardly any less damaging than what 99% of SO’s do. This cannot go on, and Florida is going to push just too far and the bubble is about to burst.
Dear Eric:
Do you have the right to vote in Florida? I really don’t know the answer to this very basic question.
I suspect not, but this and/or gaining this right could be a starting point.
It would be entirely honorable to protest and seek Voting Rights…it is a powerful issue people might understand.
Good Luck, James
Perhaps someone should post a billboard just outside town proclaiming that they “welcome murderers, kidnappers, terrorists, arsonists, and robbers… as long as they are not sex offenders”.
Watch Errol Morris’ “Vernon, Florida” documentary to appreciate how weird Vernon is.