"Although the act is intended to promote the legitimate and compelling state interest of protecting minors from internet predators, the near total ban on Internet access imposed by the act unreasonably restricts many ordinary activities that have become important to everyday life in today’s world." -- US District Court Judge Brian Jackson, in a decision declaring Louisiana's internet ban unconstitutional.
More info on Internet laws in general: http://www.oncefallen.com/InternetLaws.html
A second bill, SB 148, "makes surveillance for sexual gratification an aggravating circumstance," which means they will be added to the state sex offender registry. I'm personally against the bill because it creates more registrants. Below is from an article discussing the bill. Notice the reporter claims it is "not illegal" to peep on others but then discusses it is a class B misdemeanor. The second is the "escalation" theory, which is no more true for sex addicts than cigarette/ pot smokers:
It may come as a surprise that "peeping" at people in inappropriate places is not illegal in Alabama. Watching someone can get you put in jail, but doing so for sexual gratification doesn't increase the penalty. State Senator Arthur Orr says this is a problem.
“Alabama has not done what a lot of our sister states here in the southeast have done which is really tighten the laws for voyeurism,” he explained. That is why Orr has introduced Senate Bill 148 which makes surveillance for sexual gratification an aggravating circumstance.
"Simple criminal surveillance is a Class B misdemeanor in Alabama which does not qualify for sex offender status,” explained Lieutenant John Crouch of the Decatur PD. “Anyone convicted of that regardless of the circumstances is not required to register as a sex offender.”
If the bill passes that will all change. Crouch says if offenders are forced to register it will be much easier for his department to keep the public safe.
"Anyone engaged in this sort of activity certainly has the potential to escalate to other activities and we feel this will better enable us to keep track of these individuals."
Here is a list of Senate Judiciary Committee Members:
JUDICIARYBrooks, Co-Chairperson; Ward, Co-Chairperson; Coleman, Fielding, Keahey, Orr, Smitherman, Taylor, Whatley, Williams, Brewbaker (President Pro Tempore Designee).
Below is Senator Orr's contact info:
| SENATOR ARTHUR ORR (R) 3rd District (Limestone, Madison, Morgan) |  |
| State House: Phone: | Room 730 State House 11 South Union Street Montgomery, Alabama 36130 (334) 242-7891 | Business: | Post Office. Box 305 Decatur, Alabama 35602 (256) 260-2147 |
| Personal Website: | Senator Arthur Orr |
You can't fix stupid but you can write and call to voice your opinion! Write and call, it does help!
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