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.
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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.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
Let’s have our annual meeting in Florida!!!!
“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..
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).
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.
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”.