ACSOL Cancels its 2025 Conference
Folks, the threat is real. For decades lawmakers have argued that being publicly listed on a sex offender registry is not punishment. The Florida registration statute even says “[r]eleasing information concerning sexual offenders… and the release of such information to the public by a law enforcement agency or public agency, will further the governmental interests of public safety. The designation of a person as a sexual offender is not a sentence or a punishment but is simply the status of the offender which is the result of a conviction for having committed certain crimes.” (F.S. Sec. 943.0435(12))
Yet for decades and lack of any evidence that the sex offender registry has made the public any safer and in the face of decades of evidence that the public sex offender registry and “designation of a person as a sexual offender” has lead to the threats, intimidation, scamming, and even murder of persons forced to register and their families, we know there is absolutely a risk to public safety created by the registry.
After NARSOL’s conference was abruptly cancelled in June, a second advocacy organization, The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL), announced days ago that it was cancelling its annual conference. In a statement posted on its site, ACSOL announced that in order to protect registrants, their families and those who support them, they decided to cancel their conference that was scheduled to be held on September 26 and September 27.
This erosion of public safety is only one part of the broader harm caused by the registry. Another critical, yet often overlooked, consequence is the chilling effect it has on the First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. The Constitution guarantees every person the right to gather, associate, and express their views—especially on matters of public concern. But when individuals are forced to wear a virtual bullseye through public registry listings, that right becomes dangerously compromised.
Advocacy conferences like those organized by NARSOL and ACSOL are not just social gatherings; they are essential platforms for education, organizing, and civil rights discourse. The mere fact that these events are being canceled out of fear for the safety of attendees shows how the registry system obstructs not only freedom of movement, but freedom of expression and association.
If a religious group, political party, or civil rights movement, could not hold a meeting without putting their safety at risk, and without being able to rely on the protections of law enforcement, the nation would be outraged. We are outraged!
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Seems cowardly to allow a few threats to stop a conference. I don’t see why they are cancelling over vague unsubstantiated threats.
Well, there were some people killed at a church recently. So there is really no limits to what people will do these days to kill.
All organizations should push HARD to get the names, addresses, etc. Of the 46 Republican representatives who are on Jeffery Epsteins list of clients. The discrepancy between elected officials and the registered citizens is huge. Those representatives have the power to change the laws and abolish the registry.
Don’t worry, with the new A.I. CP laws that are coming out, their children will be on the registry and then they too can finally be in on the joke.
Hate to say it but cannot believe it took this long to happen. The more publicity we get, the more protesters, vigilantes and haters come out of the woodwork.
For our safety, the registry needs to end or all of us may end up dead, injured, attacked, in prison or our families being harmed as well. And they say the registry isn’t punishment. Almost laughable because being attacked or worse sure seems like punishment to me. And now we cannot even peacefully meet at a conference without people who have nothing more to do with their lives than protest.
Outrage only goes so far when it falls on deaf ears. The naysayers will tell you it would be dangerous to get that many sexual deviants in one place together. Law enforcement will say they are overwhelmed with temporary registrations. And we, the ones compelled to register, will be silenced and moved on again, like another Miami homeless encampment under Ron Books’ watch.
To speak up puts a double bullseye- one with LE to make sure you are following every regulation or else they will find something to ‘catch’ you on, as well as the vigilante bullseye we live with daily. I have been lucky. I have rebuilt much of my life, and live in a county that has more to focus on than compliant RSO’s. But this, this scares me. When NARSOL and ACSOL have to both cancel in the same year, there is something wrong…
@hopeful
I hate to say this but, maybe it is a good thing. Instead of spending so much money on conferences, maybe put that towards lawsuits so heavy that the courts cannot even know where to begin.