[Peace] huge favor Illinois senate bill

[Karen Medina]

Dear Friends,
[names have been changed to protect the innocent]
In March 2002, my husband at the time, Keith, was accused of having
consentual sex with a minor. I think the accuser was 15 at the time.

Since then, the accuser has appealed to have my ex-husband absolved of
all the charges. The Illinois governor at that time was Blagojevich,
who was not taking the job of governor very seriously so Blagojavich
failed to decide on the requests from the courts.

Since 2002, my ex-husband has been regarded as a sex offender. He
received 2 years of probabation and that sentence has long been over.
He registers every year and every time he moves. Still, he is
constantly under attack by the neighbors in the neighborhood where he
and his new wife live with their 4-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth suffers the most. She is isolated socially from other children.

And now an Illinois state senate bill on sex offenders will further
restrict what people like Keith can and cannot do.

I know that it is hard to decide between protecting children and
protecting convicted sex offenders who have served their sentences.
We all know that the justice system wrongly convicts people sometimes,
but the second offense here is that they also lump sex offenses into a
single catagory. I ask you to consider contacting the governor's
office, as my ex-husband's email below pleads us to do.

Sincerely,
-karen medina


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Keith
Subject: senate bill

  Hey Karen.  How are you?.   I have an important favor to ask.  So
far this year the Illinois senate has passed several bills that have
become law against individuals who are classified as sex offenders.
There is one in particular that has passed the senate but, has not
become law yet. The governor would have to sign it. This is senate
bill 2824. If this bill is signed into law I would never again be able
to take Elizabeth to any park in Champaign, Urbana or any Park in the
State. To take Elizabeth for a bicycle ride or a walk in a Park would be a
class 4 felony. And the Psychological effects in her development would
be permanent. This bill is not a law yet.  So, what I'm asking is if
you can either call the governor's office at 217 782 0244 tell them
your opinion and ask the governor to veto senate bill 2824.
You can also reach their office at this URL
www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovernor.cfm    and type a  message on
their message board/form.

  Also if you know any one else who could want to leave their opinion
on senate bill 2824 please pass the message.
   These senators instead of tackling a tough subject such as the
Illinois budget they are going after the weak instead. It seems they
are an easier target and makes them look good.


thanks


Keith