We all want to tell our story because, to each of us, it is the worst thing that ever happened to us, and we want to believe that we would rather accept someone else’s life than our own. But if we were all to throw our shoes into a circle….you are likely to take back your own familiar shoes before you chance walking in someone else’s shoes.
Our Guest Speaker on the October Membership call was Travis Vining and his book “The Miracle in the Madness” chronicles his journey from his nightmare to happiness, and the process of letting go that eventually transformed his misery into a priceless gift.
Travis is not a registered citizen; he has always been free to travel and live wherever he pleases, by law. But he didn’t feel free; he lived isolated, confused, in fear, shamed, and feeling hopeless because of childhood events that included being raised by a sociopathic father that spent 24 years on Florida’s death row for murdering four people.
In his book, he points out that we too often view misfortune as an attack, an intrusion in life, and see ourselves as victims. In an odd twist of irony, these seemingly unforgivable experiences in life may actually hold the key to freedom from suffering.
For Travis, he went in search of the Truth, and his nightmare became an inspirational journey of forgiveness, healing, faith, hope and miracles. Regardless of your religion, or where you derive your strength and clarity, you can find a ‘Miracle in the Madness’. Although his back story is very unique, the physical and emotional impact of his experience is familiar to many registered citizens and their families. Travis shared what he learned from his journey as one man’s perspective to help others on their own healing journey.
You can listen to the complete 60-minute interview on the web at https://fccdl.in/7qT1yd5yOz or by phone: Dial 605-475-4953, Access: 739392#, then enter Reference ID: 52#.
Excellent book. I am reading it now. There was a printing error in the book and so Travis refunded the book price to me.I told him I would donate that to FAC then. He whole heartily agreed and liked “paying it forward”. Shows his good character as there really was no reason to refund as the error was extremely minor.
On this Clay county thing…Does FAC itself send out anything when these things pop up? Of course we the people need to speak up and out, but being that FAC is an established organization I was wondering?
Clay County registrants, I just finished viewing the October 8 Clay County Commissioner’s meeting.
The good news is that the registrants already living in Clay Co will be grandfathered in–just don’t ever move.
Right now they are proposing the restriction for schools and parks, but that was thrown out very casually, and I will not be surprised if daycare centers and others will be thrown in during the drafting process.
The only reason that Rollins decided to propose all of this was because a news reporter called him about the city of Orange Park, wanting to know if they were going to doing anything about registrants. Why a news reporter would make such a call when there have been no problems in our county is beyond me. Rollins has nothing to do with Orange Park–he is only a county commissioner, so he told the reporter to call the Orange Park City Council. But Rollins said that it started him thinking about making changes in the county, too. Nothing has happened in our county to prompt his actions–he just thought it would be a good idea.
Listening to our commissioners during the meeting, I realized that they are clueless about the research out there. One even asked if the residency restrictions do any good. Basically, the others said they had no idea, but “if we have a 1000-ft restriction, why not just go with a 2000-ft restriction?”
Bolla was the only one who seemed to have any common sense. He asked if the proposals being made were similar to how leper colonies were once started. I am in the process of emailing all 5 commissioners with the research-based facts–again, let me emphasize that they were all nice people but absolutely clueless. Bolla needs to be commended, though, for all of his comments–he gets it.
SarahF you are doing great work on behalf of NE FL. Thank you.
Yes, they are clueless and sadly, many don’t care. What you are doing is fantastic. If you can arm Bolla with the facts, he may be able to dissuade the others from groupthink. Keep fighting!
Congratulations on your great work.
But don’t be confused about them being nice people. It is easy and trivial for people to look nice. But nice people don’t support useless harassment against pariahs. They just don’t. And the fact is that MOST people are only nice as long as it is convenient for them and working out. The SECOND that it is not, they will turn on just about anyone. Many even on their own mothers or children. So don’t fall for the “I’ll talk nice to you so I’m a nice person BS.”
“People” who support Registries are evil. “People” who are living in Amerika who think it is acceptable or even their business to tell other people where to live or be, need to get the hell out of our country.
Lastly, we should excoriate these “residency restriction” people ALL day and night. We must insist that if they have such “restrictions” that they MUST make them apply to a lot more people. They MUST make them apply to people who have committed crimes with guns. We MUST make them apply to people who have committed DUI. Just for starters. Get a whole list together and demand it. Unless ENOUGH people are affected by these criminal regimes and their crimes, not ENOUGH people will ever care. We see that all of these “nice people” don’t really care what happens to others much.
If they won’t add shooters to their “restrictions”, ask them why they want shooters by schools. Ask them why they want shooters in schools? It’s ridiculous and nothing but harassment. People should also tell them criminals that they are going to create campaign signs that say things like “Rollins wants shooters in schools. Rollins is a criminal.”
Will Allen, I have included a comment about murderers, gang leaders, etc. living next to schools, but had not thought of shooters. That is an excellent suggestion and much better than what I was using. Thanks.
Most people are unaware that when you double a linear dimension, you quadruple the area. I have included that plus research showing RR do not work.
I have suffered enough. Why should I continue to do so because of the cruelty of others? Why should I suffer because of the stupidity and tribal mentality of others?
Sorry but the “see the golden lining…” or “when life hands you lemons…” and all the other BS saying people have to make themselves feel better don’t matter.
We are suffering because of corrupt individuals who have no compassion and are abusing us for their personal gain.
Nope – I am pissed and I have waited long enough!
As we look for the “key to freedom from suffering” that Travis references, here is an article that shows after a long battle, HIV victims are making some headway in reforming the laws that have put some of them in prison and on the SOR. Maybe this softening will some day lead to relief for members of FAC and others throughout this country.
https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/10/3/20863210/hiv-aids-law-iowa-criminalization
Again, in the “key to freedom from suffering”, I see a couple reaching out to our community for some relief from the unnecessary burdens placed on people by our society:
https://www.jacksonville.com/opinion/20191013/guest-column-jail-is-bad-place-for-mentally-ill
This letter to the editor appeared in Sunday’s edition of the Florida Times Union newspaper in Jacksonville.
As I keep trying to see the “miracle in the madness”, I just ran across this article in our Clay County news:
https://claytodayonline.com/stories/bcc-to-put-school-boards-half-cent-sales-tax-on-ballot,19682?
Clay County was one of the safer counties with no extra ordinances. Now our sheriff wants “no loitering” areas (safety zones), to include all offenders to fall within requirements for living restrictions (even those who are not subject to the restrictions due to the date of the offense), switching from the 1,000 foot state resisdency restriction to 2,000 feet, more Halloween restrictions, and requiring registration fees.
This is the same sheriff who is currently under an FDLE investigation. He is becoming more and more like Chitwood.
After reading that our commissioners have given staff direction to proceed with drafting such an ordinance, I feel like giving up at this point. The battle is becoming overwhelming, something that I know that many of you feel at times.
If I were to live in clay county I would have to pay a fat Donut cop to process me a fee of 25.00? I am so glad got the hell out of that state! AZ is nothing like Fla. Got more freedom here and less bullsh^t laws
“A thousand feet is a couple of football fields,” Rollins said. “In some cases, if there’s a clear line of sight, a sexual predator could see a school.”
What a fu¢king moron! A football field is 100 yards or 300 feet. Even with end zones, it would take three football fields to equal 1,000 feet. What does this backwoods idiot think, “predators” have enhanced vision? Bionic implants that enable them to ogle kids from 1,000 feet away???
Deflecting attention away from his own corruption, the Sheriff’s office, with the aid of a power-hungry commissioner, is taking a play right out of the dirty cop playbook. Pick the easiest group of people and vilify them. Now what group would that be? Big surprise, registered citizens!
“The purpose of having the registration fee is because of all the administrative work that goes into registration and re-registration,” Grimm said.
More gaslighting! They are fu¢king paid to work in that office and also get state and federal money. Just like in Duval, these “fees” go to their party fund.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed FDLE dragging their feet on the so-called “investigation” of Danielz:
http://folioweekly.com/stories/the-waiting-game,21869
It appears that all hell has broken out in Clay County. I knew when I read the story in the Clay Today that I posted on this site, our sheriff was recommending all of these changes for registrants just so he can tell the citizens that he is making our county safer for the children, even though our county has not been having a problem with registrants re-offending. But it is all a political ploy to try to cover up his scandalous behavior. I knew things were bad, but the story you posted from Folio Weekly scares me if he is allowed to remain as our sheriff. The voters in Clay County in the past would never re-elect him, but I do not know if all voters will ever hear the truth. He is such a bully and intimidates everyone.
Yes, I am glad I do not have to take credit for being Rollins’ math teacher. 1000 ft would hold 3 and 1/3 football fields. As far as the line of sight goes, if there are no buildings or trees in the way, you could still see a school at 2000 ft.
I am replying to the article in the Clay Today once I finish a letter to the editor of the FL Times Union concerning the registrant with schizophrenia and Asperger’s. I am also sending an email or letter to our county commissioners concerning the absurdity of the recommendations made by our sheriff just so he can get re-elected. (It might take me a couple of days to get all of this done, though.) He is becoming desperate. If he and Chitwood ever join forces, we all need to leave Florida.
I really want to send a copy of the Folio Weekly article to all of our county commissioners. It cannot be a link since all public officials are told not to click on links. It needs to be a hard copy. I am scared to death of that man, though. If he were to find out that I mailed it, I know he would have his deputies come after my husband, or any other registrant who might mail it. I never thought this would be a county where I would be afraid to share a news article with our county government leaders. If I were to speak at the next commissioners meeting, he would be there and could easily find out my husband’s name. I thought Chitwood was bad, but I now consider ours worse.