AN OPEN LETTER ON BANISHMENT: S-4089

RE: Senate Bill S-4089 "Stop the Online Exploitation of Our Children Act of 2006"

I would like to express my deep and sincere concern over this Bill. First, let me say that I do not favor the exploitation of children, but this Bill casts the net too widely.

It does not accomplish the stated purpose. I am particularly concerned that this Bill would deny constitutional rights to freely access and participate in the Internet and WorldWideWeb.

The internet (web), and all of its various shapes, forms and devises, to include websites, shopping and communications services, and other informational tools and utensils are very important, if not absolutely essential to life in the twenty-first century.

We do not say that we will prohibit all sex offenders as a class from reading or writing, or publishing books, or telling stories in person. We do not say that we will prohibit sex offenders from using the telephones or the public roads, or rail, or buses, or parks, or schools or mails or other public utilities and establishments.

We should not say that we will prohibit sex offenders from using the internet.

Please do not pass a Bill that would restrict any American from using the internet to the full extent of her and its capabilities.

A review and additional info on this Bill is available by clicking here.


Throughtout the Internet folks are discussing Sen. McCain's proposed bill S-4089 (click link to go to bill) "Stop the Online Exploitation of Our Children Act of 2006" which is claimed to be an effort to curtail child porn. The bill has been read twice in the Senate (on 12-6-06) and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

A second focus of the bill is to require registered sex offenders (RSOs) to provide an e-mail address when they register. Folks are erroneously claiming there will be a federal registry of just e-mail addresses so that social networking sites may deny RSOs access to their websites, that is not true. What the bill indicates is, each RSO's individual record will also contain the e-mail address they provide when they register.

Place to go for all things (okay, many) affecting sex offenders (eAdvocate).