09/08/2011
DAYTONA BEACH - An ordinance to require sex offenders in Daytona Beach to live farther away from schools, parks, and churches is one step closer to taking effect.
On Wednesday night, Daytona Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved the the ordinance that would require the offenders to live at least 2,500 feet away.
- Why don't you just make it 100 miles? Might as well. It still wouldn't prevent crime or protect people from someone who is intent on harming someone. This is nothing more than forced exile, and I thought only third world countries did that?
According to the FDLE, there is currently a Florida Statute, which holds, in part, that individuals convicted of certain sexual crimes, where the victim was less than 16, and the offense occurred on or after Oct. 1 2004, cannot reside within 1,000 feet of any school, day care center, park, or playground.
- So tell me politicians and media, how many sex crimes have been committed by known sex offenders around schools, day cares, parks or playgrounds? Most sex crimes, as the FACTS point out, occur in the victims own home, by their own family or close friends, not some stranger.
Police Chief Mike Chitwood proposed the new measure. He said 10 other cities and towns in Volusia County already have similar guidelines.
But some people at the meeting didn't support the idea.
"If you don't have children or you don't live in the area or you don't work in law enforcement, you don't know studies," said Chitwood. "You'd be crazy not to pass this."
- I think you are clueless. And speaking of studies, all the studies I have seen, show these buffer zones, and the online registry doesn't do what it's intended to do, and only makes matters worse. But hey, who cares for the actual facts, right?
The 178 sex offenders who already live in Daytona Beach would be grandfathered in and allowed to stay in their current homes.
"I think this is double jeopardy, frankly," said Chitwood. "To continue to subject these people who have done their time."
"Do you wish they'd just leave your city all together?" WFTV asked.
- Yes, that is obvious!
"I wouldn't be opposed if we backed up a ship out there on the pier and loaded them up and took them somewhere to live," said Chitwood. "Put them all on an island together."- Yeah, let's remember how Nazi Germany was, and relive it! Even if you did this, most all sex crimes are from those NOT on the registry, so even this emotional reaction would not solve the problem.
Commissioners will take a final vote on the ordinance in two weeks. If it passes, it will take effect immediately.
