NIMBY on Display: Former politician not happy about new neighbor, so he tries to change laws to displace him.
Brian Pepin, a former California Councilmember and political consultant, recently took to the podium at a St. Johns County (Florida) Commission meeting to advocate for stricter sex offender residency restrictions. His reason? A man convicted of possessing child pornography in 2007 moved across the street from his house. That man has served his time, been off supervision for over a decade, and, from all appearances, has done nothing wrong—except exist.
Pepin’s remarks make one thing painfully clear: this isn’t about protecting children. It’s about Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) panic wrapped in emotional appeals and political theater.
The man across the street committed his crime nearly two decades ago. He served prison time, completed supervised release, and has lived without incident since. According to every tenet of our justice system, he has paid his debt to society. Yet to Pepin, this man’s mere presence is enough to justify reshaping local law. There is no allegation that this individual has done anything threatening or illegal. No lurking. No inappropriate behavior. Nothing beyond setting up a Ring doorbell camera on his own house—a common device used by millions of homeowners for security.
But because of who he is, because of the label he carries, that camera becomes a sinister surveillance tool in the eyes of a neighbor. His existence becomes a threat. His address becomes a problem.
Residency restrictions are a political reflex, not a public safety solution. Over 25 years of research—including studies from the U.S. Department of Justice—show that residency restrictions do not reduce recidivism. What does reduce reoffending? Housing. Employment. Support. Stability.
We get that Mr. Pepin doesn’t want the stigma of a neighbor on the registry any more than his neighbor likes being registered. But NIMBY cannot be the basis for policy. The law must be grounded in fact, data, and justice—not public shaming, moral panic, or the politics of exclusion.
The man across the street has done everything the system asked of him. He has followed the law. And now, the message he’s receiving is: “That’s still not good enough.” What’s happening here is not about public safety. It’s about creating a class of untouchables—people who, no matter what they do or how long ago they did it, can never be neighbors, citizens, or humans again. That is persecution.
If you want to post a comment on the source article you can find it here.
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Rm
I agree nine aren’t posted either. Something is wrong here. Certain people are privileged
MRS d
I have been on this site for years, many many of my post are rejected and just today I had at least two rejected and two modified.
So stop saying they were picking and choosing who to post. F.A.C does not belong to us and even though I often disagree when they do not post something I say, I do not own the site so I have no say in the matter.
In closing, I am not privileged we have all at one time or another been censored on here. Some of us more than others.
Contact FAC on the contact form and they will if you are nice tell you why they didn’t post. I just make another post and try and make it fit into the rules.
As far as me calling some trolls on here, you and many others like to keep calling us sex offenders. As I am not currently, nor have been in over 33 years, offended. One small period of your life does not define a person.
Hope you get the peace that you want and need. Have a pleasant weekend.
Happy 4th dear neighbors 🇺🇲🇺🇲🧨🧨🏏🏑USA
Playing a game of CRAPS may yield a better result
-based on odds
Happy Fourth!
I tried twice to post a comment on the article and both were deleted. In summary, I told Pepin to be a good neighbor and introduce himself and welcome him to the neighborhood. Then I stated for him to mind his business and stop the fear mongering. His statements during that hearing is full of holes and he was not telling the truth. Florida is one of the toughest states for RSO.
Had it with these folks.
Sasha
I know? I tried but seems like only Cherokee,s s comments are being posted. Unfair
MRs d
Lies. Just today, I wrote to you and 4 of my posts were not allowed.
One that did go through, 70% of it was deleted and only said the warm and fuzzy stuff.
Like I said and this better go through, stop harassing me. You started this fight. Just leave me and others alone. You are welcome to comment and I do not care if you want all of us to die, but when you direct it at us personally, like calling me Cher. Cher is a singer and you are insulting my Native American heritage. By the way, Cher, even tho she claims to be native american, she is 90% Armenian.
As stated in our Weekly Update. Direct your comments to the post, not to other commenters. It is hard work having to read all of your comments and we don’t have the volunteers to do it. We’re too busy fighting the registry. If you and Mrs. D want a direct conversation, create your own private forum.
Sorry FAC for inconvenience , you made it clear..I’m glad your in agreement with my thoughts.
Managing even a simple forum can be challenging. When conversations heat up and participation increases, it takes time and effort to sort out who’s genuinely contributing from those who are just stirring up trouble across forums for sport. Honestly, that kind of behavior is disturbing.
I come here to stay informed about current legal and social developments, and to stay connected with others in a similar situation. It’s a comfort to be among registered peers. I don’t mind when non-RSOs ask questions or share thoughts—curiosity is natural—but if I’m being honest, I’d personally be fine if this space were RSO-only. We already deal with enough hostility here in Florida, and sometimes we just need a safe, focused environment where we can speak freely and support each other.
I know FAC invests significant time and resources in sharing the truth and advocating for change, and I appreciate that deeply. But perhaps allowing open access to the forum isn’t the best way to serve that mission.
@Rob
WELL, if all of the members and RSO quit the site, there will be no one left because all the trolls will leave when they have accomplished what they came to do, cause chaos and hate and get us to get mad and leave the site.
I am more mad at FAC that I am at the trolls. When the owner of FAC was running this site, we very rarely had a troll. And I do not have any say in here because I am disabled and do not have the money to donate to this site. But I have heard from several members who said they were leaving until the hater stop coming in here.
We are told they let them in to show what we come up against? Really, we live it every day, we come in here for safety and brotherhood, not harassment. Eventually the trolls will be the downfall of this site.
I personally do not come in here to feel worse about myself than I already do. They have to come in here and hide behind a keyboard but even being disabled, I am not someone to mess with in person. I am a nice guy but my snapping point does not have a stop button.
Peace for those who stay, your going to need it
I was just telling them that it is NOT just them getting censored, I am used to it but the trolls are stating they are the only ones getting censored so just advising them that FAC is NOT picking on them, everyone gets censored on occasion.
There was no reason for me to direct it to you or any FAC moderator because I just re-do my post until it meets the requirements. Again I was explaining to them that it happened to me and all of us, that why they did not think you were picking favorites.
I get the sense that diving into politics or religion is a quick way to get a post removed — which honestly makes sense. Without that boundary, things could spiral fast. 😉
Thank you.
I was referring to to posting comments on the article’s site. It allowed my comment to await moderation but there is no display of any comments once accepted.
I tried posting a comment as well. I wonder if the comments just get posted to the author of the article because I didn’t see a comment thread.
I also left a reasoned post that was deleted. Apparently “The St. Johns Citizen” only posts comments its editors agree with. That’s not called journalism. It’s called an advertisement.
Mrs. Darsha
This site is about ending the current state of the registry. I have never seen anyone advocate for a sex crime, only the ending of the registry. This is also a place for members to share their experiences with the registry for others. No one here needs more hate or the spreading of misinformation and lies. People would welcome any opinions as to how to make the registry less punitive. Just stop the hate, the Karenist comments, and talk of vigilante justice.
@BWJ
I still think many of these user names are the same people using 5 to 10 different names. FAC already caught one person doing that but it was the same ISP. There is a device someone can get on the internet that changes your ISP and some of them could “Potentially” be doing that. The reason I say this is two fold, #1 why within a months time did so many new bashers / Trolls/ haters show up in a small amount of time? #2, maybe one of them was on social media and called for people to come in here and cause chaos.
As I mentioned before, if someone “Personally in this site” abused my family member, I might come in and harass them, but I doubt a single one of these posters know who we are (Other than those who insist on using their real names in here like Captain Charles used to do)
Eventually, these people will get bored with us because we are not going anywhere. I have said all along, even if I get removed from the registry, I would still come in and comment and encourage others to stay in the fight (To be removed from registry, not to fight with posters in here)
Lastly, and frankly, I am surprised it took this long for the trolls to crawl out of the woodwork and come after us like zombies.
I have noticed that FAC is posting comments from several members, who are allowed to bash so called Trolls here. Sounds to mee Bias. I personally don’t care to see Million posts from Cherokee bashing other members such mrD, BenG.Lets be fair
Thanks
Cherokee and others on here are stating fact. We are not bashing, and we are not threatening, unlike the trolls on here who are advocating violence and further punishment towards PFRs.
Mrs. Daksha
On a sincere note, if you or one of your family members were a victim of sexual abuse, I am genuinely sorry for those who hurt you or your family. This site was made for those on the registry to connect and get resources and to encourage each other and give them hope.
It does not help anything when people come on here stating we should all be sent back to prison or executed or killed by mobs. I could totally understand if you were a victim of mine or another on the registry, but I bet a cool gold coin that you probably do not know anyone in the forum personally.
Property Values
Throughout America, from Fisher Island, to Vero, to Beverly Hills, to Santa Monica, to Seattle to Jackson Hole, to Sun Valley, to Napa Valley, Sonoma, Brickell, SpaceX city, Nawlins……
Everyone is surrounded by a PFR…..
.
The Property values are based on inventory and what you wanna pay!
Per the article, Pepin’s wife “crying herself to sleep at night.”….Did someone harm her?
Maybe Pepin’s wife needs to go see a Shrink!
-Highly Suggested
The husband was a “political consultant”; what does that mean?!?1? like Ron B?
Cj
Mrs Pepin is a victim as well.