The message we consistently hear from all across the country is: “I’m just one
person. What can I do?” Individually there isn’t a great deal you can do, but
if we pool our resources, we can be powerful. According to the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children, there are more than 750,000 persons listed
on sex offender registries nationwide. If only 10% of the total RSO population
were to make a one-time donation of $5.00, we would have $375,000.00 for this
legal fund.
A fund in that amount would provide the flexibility to support litigation
efforts already underway or to selectively initiate new challenges against the
various registration statutes around the country. For example on December 20,
RSOL sent a press release to 130 news outlets, and a few legislators, primarily
in PA, announcing that it would soon challenge sections of Senate Bill 1183
(Pennsylvania’s new sex offender registration requirements) on multiple
constitutional grounds.
Constitutional challenges to AWA and other legislation and laws that affect our
advocacy are meeting with some success. Just look at what is happening in CA
and a few other states. This doesn\'t just affect PA or any one state. A
victory anywhere is a victory for us all; we are truly all in this together.
And let us not forget the murders of Gary Blanton and Jerry Ray, and the
overwhelming outcry from you. The leadership of RSOL considers this situation
to be a crisis and that we cannot wait any longer for other organizations to
step forward and save us. Many have suggested that a lawsuit against Washington
State should be initiated. Due to the number of deaths that have occurred there
at the hands of vigilantes, that idea certainly has merit.
However, the selection and prioritization process will involve input from both
legal professionals and state affiliates with priority given to litigation that
would provide benefit to the greatest number of registrants.
We need your financial support! If you have thought about making a donation to
our legal fund, or encouraging your constituency to do so, this is an excellent
time. There is a legal fund PayPal button on the website, or mail checks to RSOL
Legal Fund, PO Box 36123, Albuquerque, NM 87176.
Donations to the legal fund go directly to this and other challenges by RSOL.
Please help us help you and your family!
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