These Key Laws Could End Sexual Abuse

     Sex offender registration is its own topic with dozens of subtopics regarding reforms and strengthening of release conditions. However, in terms of sentencing, there are a number of laws that, if passed, could spare literally millions of children from the life-altering scars left by sexual abuse.

     We need to start viewing child pornography as a more serious offense. One of the largest cases in the state of Wisconsin saw a man with 12,000+ pictures and videos charged with 213 counts, which means that 213 children were victimized for his enjoyment. People who possess porn fuel the market for child molestation and sex trafficking, the most perversive crime in the world. Their actions allow children to continue being victimized, and any viewing of a picture or video of a child is revictimization in itself. In Wisconsin, it is a class D felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. It should, rather, be on par with what child molestation is now and be a class B felony to possess it, punishable by up to 60 years in prison. Distribution is obviously even more dangerous and should be charged as a class A felony with a mandatory life sentence, as it is in effect participation in sex trafficking.

     As should child molestation itself. Laws have improved slightly, and people who would have gotten 6-18 months are now getting 10-20 years. However, molesting a child causes lifelong damage that, in a number of tragic situations, makes said children take their own lives. Molestation irreparably harms lives and should be a class A felony akin to murder. Anyone who knowingly fails to act should be guilty of a class C, rather than a class E, and face 40 years.

     While these would mostly provide a strong deterrent, one law could take hundreds of thousands of monsters off the street: a two-strikes law for sexual offenders. Violent criminals who fall under the three-strikes law can make a mistake, and, in a fit of rage, hurt somebody, but they can be helped with the proper tools. Sexual criminals, on the other hand, have an underlying compulsion that will keep them preying on defenseless people even  after they have served their time. Minor crimes like exposure and groping demonstrate a pattern of sexual perversion when done twice, and undoubtedly there would be more victims. A single sexual predator can destroy up to 100-250 lives, and waiting until they are caught 3 times leaves room for dozens of victims to be created.

     If we strengthened sentencing and took the common-sense, safe approach to punishing sex offenses, our communities would be all the safer for it.