Please Comment on Facebook Posts
FAC has received a lot of media attention this week because of our lawsuit challenging Florida’s sex offender registry. Some of that coverage has been in mainstream media, and some has been across social media.
The mainstream media coverage has been professional, factual, and largely neutral. The comments underneath those stories and on social media, however, have been a different story. We’ve seen plenty of comments along the lines of, “They should be put in the woodchipper.”
Setting aside the obvious fact that advocating that anyone be put through a woodchipper is completely inappropriate, these comments actually demonstrate something important about what this lawsuit is about. If people took a few minutes to actually read our complaint, they would discover that the people affected by Florida’s registry are not all the same. The complaint gives examples of some plaintiffs that were convicted of consensual sexual relationships between teenagers. Others were convicted of offenses that were non-violent, non-contact, and involved no direct victim. And every one of the plaintiffs who would be affected by the decision in our case has already served their sentence and been released into the community.
We aren’t litigating the underlying criminal offenses. The question now is what government may constitutionally do to people after they have completed their sentences and returned to their communities.
There is no evidence that forcing people into homelessness makes communities safer. There is no evidence that making someone sleep outdoors, separating them from housing and family, or permanently branding them as dangerous prevents recidivism. And here’s the irony: When people comment on our lawsuit by demanding banishment, homelessness, permanent punishment, or even a “woodchipper,” they are making our constitutional argument for us. The comments prove our point!
Florida tells courts that its registry is a civil, regulatory, non-punitive scheme. Yet these comments reveal exactly how it functions in practice: as a mechanism for continuing punishment long after a criminal sentence has ended. Our lawsuit is precisely about that distinction.
We know that many people required to register cannot participate in Facebook discussions themselves (being banned from from social media – the modern public square – is ironically another form of banishment). That’s why we’re asking parents, spouses, children, family members, friends, and supporters who can participate to do so. If you see comments claiming that everyone on the registry is a violent predator, that everyone deserves to be homeless, or that challenging these laws somehow means supporting sexual abuse, take a moment to respond with facts.
You don’t have to argue. You don’t have to insult anyone. Just point people toward the actual facts and, most importantly, encourage them to read the complaint before passing judgment. The people in this lawsuit have already been punished for their crimes. The question before the court is whether the government can continue punishing them indefinitely after that punishment is over. That’s what this case is about.
Here’s an example of such comments: https://www.facebook.com/jweinsierWPLG/videos/now-what-sex-offenders-and-sexual-predators-removed-but-problem-not-solved-what-/2155327628719057/
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mostly we have government ie politicians as the cause for a lot of the hate. when you have politicians like mr. Christian church going sheriff shady that calls accused people all kinds of names, and shishesterwood and a bunch of others trying to grandstand to our to state and federal politicians by spewing false information then you have these fancy names for entrapment stunts just to make headlines, then you have private prisons for profit there is something wrong with this system. then lets not forget that politicians that want us locke upped for ever gets sweetheart deals for themselves and their family’s! we should all be fing outraged over these latest one! it is BS! all corruption! FOLLOW THE $$$
This proves my exact comment on another post. I said it’s great that FAC is getting the media coverage they deserve but be ready for the wolves to come out. I look at it this way, we have facts on our side and there’s nothing more powerful than the truth. The problem is society argues with their feelings.
I dont have social but when I did I would for example
What restrictions do people forced to register in Florida have on where they can live?
Answer: Florida state law requires a 1,000-foot distance from schools and similar locations, but many counties and municipalities impose a 2,500-foot restriction instead. Every county and municipality is different each person forced to register should check with local registration office to make sure of compliance this is the reality of the law.
We live in an evil wicked world. The majority of society look on us as scum, trash. With this lawsuit, we are going to face opposition. It’s how we respond is important. Going round and round with social media people is going to be tough. We can’t convince people who the law and politics and police have persuaded people whose picture and sin and crime is on the registry to defend us. Let’s us keep praying trusting Gods sovereignty and keep fighting together🙏🏽🙏🏽
You are so right, this is a great avenue to make comments to show how fraudulent Florida’s registry is. Would you give us the current statistics on the percentage of registrants such as those not allowed to be removed when leaving the state, how much grant and tax money is used to maintain the fraudulent registry, the percent of recidivism compared to other crimes, percent of homelessness and joblessness, etc? I can’t wait to comment!!
I feel there should be boundaries set but, people still have to live and why not get people the help they deserve. Why, punish them and then say oh well figure it out thats not right nor fair . What happen to the land of the free and home of the brave or does that only apply to certain people. We are all human beings and we make mistakes no one is perfect.