LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Lawmakers in Arkansas say public safety is one of the top priorities this legislative session.
As of Monday, more and more legislators are signing off on a bill that would provide full disclosure on the sex offender registry in Arkansas when it comes to where exactly the highest-level sex offenders live.
HB1004 would amend the Sex Offender Registry Act to include the exact house, apartment, or unit number of level three and four sex offenders. The current law only requires the street name and block number.
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“Arkansas is one of only four states in the entire country and the only state in the southeast that doesn’t publish the full physical address,” Ray said.
Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright fears this makes Arkansas an easy target for predators. He said he strongly supports the new legislation, which he hopes would better protect the state.
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Jan Sarna is a citizen who came to the committee meeting Monday to speak against it.
“Where is the verifiable proof of the danger that has been brought up in this bill,” he asked.
Sarna said people across the country have created a stigma around sex offenders, and he questions that most “dangerous offenders” would re-attack. He added that he thinks the bill is based on hysteria and fear.
“It is a bad idea to be a sex offender,” Sheriff Wright said. “If that offends them, I don’t care.”
The bill has passed through the House Judiciary Committee and House floor, and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. It will head to its final stop for approval Tuesday on the Senate floor before going to Governor Sanders to be signed.
Arkansas residents, show up, stand up, and speak up! Be as brave as Jan Sarna. The Arkansas legislature believes no one will object to these terrible laws. Write and call your state senators ASAP before this bill hits the floor.
So intsead of the ‘because we can’ cliche, now it’s “I don’t care”.
The next reply when shown verifiable proof the registry doesn’t work will be “Whatever”.
I love when law enforcement criminals like Saline County Sheriff Rodney Wright prove that I am right to never care when they get shot. If that offends them, I don’t care.
De-fund the criminals. They are a danger to free Americans.
A solution looking for a problem to be solved when it does not exist except in the Sheriff’s own mind. Making AR an easier place to be a target?! Really?! This is not heading them off at the pass, but merely doing the job of instilling fear where it does not belong.
One of the poorest shithole states has nothing better to be concerned with?
If there is any hypocrisy in the Sheriff’s office, or his home, I pray God exposes it.
Interesting that the reporter didn’t publish anything about the committe’s response to Sarna’s question regarding proof of necessity.
“…Sheriff Rodney Wright fears this makes Arkansas an easy target for predators.””
Couple thoughts:
1: Does Arkansas really have an issue with this? Is their recidivism rate abnormally high among PFRs that would have their full address listed in another State? If it isn’t, what makes you think this is necessary and/or productive? If your Tier III PFRs don’t recidivate at higher rates than say CA T3 PFRs, who have their full address listed…how can you imagine switching to full address is going to help?
2: What percentage of In Home, Stranger perpetrated acts of vigilantism Target full address PFRs vs Block Number only PFRs. How frequently, on a Nationwide basis, do Vigilantes Target PFRs who have their full address listed, vs targeted PFRs that only have block number disclosed?
If there is no difference, then that’s one thing, but if full address PFRs are disproportionately targeted, which I suspect they may be, then how is this not just making vigilante attacks easier for the vigilante? Helping the vigilante be certain they are going to the right residence, to get the person they have targeted, and not just a neighbor? Why are we further assisting vigilantism?
Evidently “ public safety” is defined very narrowly. Wonder if they are putting the same effort into:
Gun safety
DUIs
Drug selling
Domestic abuse
Reckless driving
( you may feel free to add more )