| The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, repackaged from the Child Safety Act (HR 4472 and S 1086 and now known as S.AMDT.4686), is being referred to as a "death sentence" for all persons forced to register as sex offenders due to a conviction of a sex-related offense.
SoHopeful International, a human rights political action committee, has worked non-stop with families, citizens and professionals to change the way Megan's Law and similar legislation mandates the registration, tracking and community notification of non-violent, low risk sex offenders. The organization makes this effort in order to strengthen the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) and make it more effective, to help it to accomplish what it was originally intended to do.
In 2005, leadership from SOhopeful International worked closely with Senator Orrin Hatch and coordinated with Senator Patrick Leahy, both on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Senate Bill 1086 "Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, stating "we are very proud of our efforts on the bill, and that many of the very postive and productive, common-sense recommendations that we made were inserted into the bill."
Well, unfortunately, the common-sense recommendations were thrown right out the window.
Hatch and Leahy bailed under the strong arm lobby of Walsh, Lunsford, and Smart.
According to experts, the proposal is written in such a way that NO PERSON registered as an offender will be listed as a Tier One.
Presently, many persons forced to register have been convicted of a sex-related offense that involved no physical contact with anyone, i.e. online chat with an undercover officer, possession of a questionable picture, public urination, or a Romeo and Juliet teenage relationship.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act would require persons that had no physical contact with anyone to be designated as a Tier II or Tier III registrant, appearing unfairly represented as extremely dangerous. Such designations would further prohibit law enforcement from quality supervision of the truly dangerous predators of children.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid delivered the following remarks July 20, 2006 in the U.S. Senate, lending his support to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, important legislation that will help protect America's children against the dangers posed by sex offenders. The text of Senator Reid's remarks, as prepared, is below.
"The Senate is about to take an important step to improve the safety of our nation's children. Very shortly we will pass the "Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act," also know as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this significant legislation. Today, I am pleased to say that negotiations have resulted in a strong bill that will soon pass both chambers and become law. I appreciate the willingness of all members to put aside unrelated controversial issues so that we could focus on the core purpose of this bill -- protecting children."
Smoke and mirrors.
The sponsors of this bill are so certain the proposed legislation will pass, that a rally is planned next Thursday, the 27th of July, the 25th anniversary of the abduction and murder of six-year old, Adam Walsh, as President Bush signs the bill into law.
What is wrong with this picture?
Any law named after a child is a sure vote getter...no matter whose rights are trampled on.
And many co-sponsors of this proposal are up for reelection.
What happened to state rights?
Senators and Congressmen, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act will do more harm than good in your respective states.
Vote NO. Permit your represented state legislatures the opportunity to harness this monster and restructure and individualize the sex offender registry according to the needs of their constituency.
Vote against the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
NAY! |
