RALEIGH – One group thinks so, and they’re pushing the fair to allow registered sex offenders to attend on constitutional grounds. The sheriff is pushing back however, vowing to enforce the law after multiple sex offenders were arrested last year.
From ABC11:
“One group says banning registered sex offenders from the state fair is unconstitutional but the sheriff is holding firm to the law.
The law has been on the books for the past 3 state fairs — banning the state’s 24,000 registered sex offenders from the festivities.
They could be arrested if caught on the fairgrounds. Now a group is coming in defense of sex offenders and is lobbying the Wake County Sheriff to ignore the law that they argue is unconstitutional.
Monday marks 10 days till the start of the State Fair in Raleigh.
More than a million fairgoers are expected: Moms, dads, and lots of kids. […]”
As you might imagine, when the reporters asked around for public opinion the overwhelming majority agreed registered sex offenders should stay way from the fair just like as they’re required to steer clear of schools.
So who is the group advocating for sex offenders? It’s called North Carolinians for Rational Sexual Offense Laws and they don’t think registered sex offenders should be restricted from the fair, or even school grounds. Their argument is that the offenders have already paid their debt to society and add that 95 percent of sex crimes are perpetrated by people with no record at all.
Robin Vander Wall is the group’s president, pleads the case:
“We’re calling on the sheriff not to enforce the law, basically. We’re asking the sheriff to stand on principle and protect the rights and privileges of the citizens of the state and in particular the citizens of Wake County who happen to be sex offenders to allow them to go to the state fair.”
It is worth noting how unusual of a rebel cause it is fighting for sex offenders’ right to attend a fair. That aside, the group is barking up the wrong tree asking Sheriff Baker to ignore the law. Wake County can only afford to ignore so many public safety issues at any given time, and providing sanctuary to criminal illegal aliens holds apparently holds priority.
What do you think? Should sex offenders that have done their time be allowed a the state fair? Are their rights being violated?
Read more reactions here.
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