I just learned of another over-the-top law affecting those deemed to be sexual predators, this time an ordinance approved on February 12, 2008 by the Fort Walton Beach, Florida, city council.
The ordinance makes it illegal for registered offenders to attend cultural affairs, recreation centers, and city parks within the city limits; they may no longer enter such facilities as the Indian Temple Museum or the Tennis Center.
This ordinance was written after a stricter law discussed in 2007 was deemed unenforceable by the police; it would have make it illegal to live within 2000 ft of “wherever children gather”—usually something of a moving target.
One city council member summed up the council’s attitude: “The other benefit of the public realizing these are predator-free areas is just as important as he predator not being there at all.”
My take on this?
Florida state law is more than sufficiently draconian already.
For just one reference to all the reasons such legislation is counter-productive (aside from being mean-spirited), see “No Easy Answers: Sex Offender Laws in the U.S.”—published by Human Rights Watch in September 2007. I refer you to the following language from that study:
“Laws aimed at people convicted of sex offenses may not protect children from sex crimes but do lead to harassment, ostracism and even violence against [them]; politicians didn’t do their homework before enacting these sex offender laws. Instead, they have perpetuated myths about sex offenders and failed to deal with the complex realities of sexual violence.”
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