Brevard County sticks by tough ordinance restricting sex offenders
Brevard County commissioners reaffirmed their tough stance toward registered sex offenders by making only making minor changes to a regulation limiting where they can go — even as the measure is being challenged in court.
The commission updated section 74 of the county code on Tuesday to allow businesses to register as a park so long as the business is used for recreation and is a place that children regularly visit. That will enable the owner to create a 1,000-foot buffer zone prohibiting any individual on the sex offender registry from visiting the site or transacting business.
The ordinance that was codified back in 2020 extended the restrictions on registered sex offenders from an ordinance passed back in 2006, barring people on the registry from entering within 1,000 feet of a school or recreation area, such as a park or gymnasium where children may be present.
That 2020 update extended the prohibition to businesses, applying the rule to businesses that register with the county to be included in the definition of a park. The measure was marred by controversy even then, with advocates, along with friends and family of registered sex offenders, attending the meetings and urging commissioners to reconsider.
“It’s disappointing that it took a lawsuit before the Brevard County Commissioners would honor our clients’ right to free speech and to address their elected representatives,” said Jessica Travis, a local attorney helping registered offenders with their case. “You don’t have to like our clients’ history to appreciate that all United States citizens have constitutional rights.”
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Constitutional Rights? I don’t think so. The only rights you have are what they tell you and they have the Supreme Court to back them. It is pretty funny in a way. The Constitution was written by the people to protect us from the Government, yet the Government tells us what the Constitution says and what our rights are. As a Registered Sex Offenders, We have less than anyone. Any questions about that just ask Government.
Very few realize that fact. The greatest threat to freedom loving people has never been crime, but tyranny by the hand of their own government. It is the reason our country was founded and the reason our founding documents were created. Yet we have a track record of being tyrannical to disfavored groups throughout our history.
I have a feeling that this nonsence will continue to escalate untill someone just snaps. And I mean in a bad way. I hope it never happens. But a person can only be pushed so far beofre they break. Much like the civil rights fight many years ago. This garbage at some point will implode in some way or another. I’m sure of it. These commissioners some day will understand thay there money and influence will only take them so far. I hope this is ended peacefully. Some Registrants have already paid with there life’s. I hope not one more has too.
I was thinking the same thing. Eventually this nonsense is going to get so bad that perhaps some registered persons will feel they have nothing more to lose and will snap and burn the whole city to the ground.
Hopefully that will never happen, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if it did.
I for one, am sick and tired of people lumping all of us into one category. Everything they do seems to be about “protecting children”, but not every registered person’s case involved a child. I’m sick and tired of the public thinking that we have nothing better to do than to try to abduct their kids.
I hate to say it, but if I saw a school bus crash, I probably would drive right on by because I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was trying to molest the kids instead of rescuing them.
The race riots that took place before and during the civil rights movement suggest this outcome is inevitable, should history be our guide.
Let’s hope that there are some in our judicial branch with better judgement than our legislators and general populace. Unfortunately for us, we rarely instruct our children on our troubled history and, even more unfortunate, we have even shorter memories.
We all should use our talents, time and/or resources to in some way engage and fight back. How? Well, donate to an organization like FAC or others that are in this fight. A few dollars can add up to making an impact…or volunteer we need your talents and experience in your areas of strength.
Kudos to the Capt for making FL Today!
The more we speak the truth in public, the more the press picks it up.
And next, will individual homeowners also be able to declare their property to be “a park” where children gather??
This is obvious a Intentional directed misuse of a law for a purpose it was not designed. How on earth does a Business Identify as a Park? I guess they will have to adhere to zoning and Tax consequences also?. Can I bring my Animals to this “Park” I just cant believe a legal argument does not clearly show this is getting used to do something it does not cover. Does a Park not have a legal Definition? Ok so my Bike is now classified as a car?, This must stop! A business clearly is not a Park and no voting from a Quasi Board in Florida should be able to change the legal definition of such.
It was a disgraceful display by the county commissioners. We will need to continue suing them until they wake up or find themselves out on the street.