My name is Kristin Silvers. I am only a common person; no higher power, no authority, no government decision-making abilities. That's why I am writing this, because it is the only way to help speak out for these helpless children. This is everything in my power that I know how to do, so I will do it. I want to remind everyone that every time a milestone in signatures is reached, an email will be received by the United States Department Of Justice. My goal is to give them as many chances to open and read this as I can, and hopefully provoke some change. Thanks for your support!

Brianna Lopez was murdered by her own family members before she was even six months old. According to an article reported by Kim Vallez, of KRQE News 13, Brianna’s story is the most brutal child abuse case in state history. Baby Brianna was raped and beaten. She had bite marks on her face, cheek, head, arms, legs, chest and torso. Detective Lindell Wright was the first officer on the scene. He stated that she had massive bruising on her head, and her little fingers and toes were lacerated. She was literally bruised from head to toe. This little angel was beaten and raped by her own family. According to Investigators, Brianna’s mother Stephanie Lopez, her father Andy Walters, and her uncle Steven Lopez were the sick pieces of crap responsible for her death. Apparently the night before, the father and uncle were “having some fun” with Brianna and were throwing her to the ceiling and letting her hit the ground. The two also admitted to raping this poor child time and time again. The mother was said to have bitten her child, along with other family members. Detective Wright said that she had bite marks throughout her entire body, old and new. He also stated that she had skull fractures that were old and new. This baby had literally been abused her entire life.
Central Idea: The mother, father, and uncle of baby Brianna were only sentenced to no more than 65 years each. I am here today to tell you that all convicted child abusers, molesters or rapists should be sentenced to life in prison with absolutely no parole.
I know that the chances of all of you being completely sickened by this story are pretty high. So let's do something to change this.
I have done my fair share of research on this subject. I have always been intrigued by child-related careers, which is probably the reason I am currently enrolled in the Human Services program. I would like to be social worker or something along the lines of that. I have a love for children, and want to do everything in my power to help protect them.
I am here today to….
1. First, to explain that the techniques and sentencing of child abusers or molesters used is not sufficient.
2. Second, to explain to you the effects of sexual abuse and why it should not be taken lightly.
3. Third, to show how our Justice System has failed us.
4. And lastly, to explain what would be the most beneficial punishment for these offenders.
Let’s begin with the problem…
I. Child abuse penalties are not nearly as harsh as they should be.
A. According to former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, any person convicted of sex crimes against children age eleven and under face a mandatory sentence of twenty five years in prison, and have to wear a lifetime global positioning device once they are freed.
1. Aside from being sentenced to death, this is found to be one of the tougher penalties, but it is still not enough. These are our children, and no offender should be released back into society after violating the rights of an innocent child.
B. According to an article written by Campbell Robertson of The New York Times, a seventy-eight year old prisoner of Louisiana was surgically castrated as part of a plea deal in a child molestation case.
1. Francis Phillip Tullier was the prisoner who was arrested in 1997. He was facing more than 6,000 counts of aggravated oral sexual battery and molestation of a juvenile.
2. This man was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing young girls for more than twenty years.
3. He was sentenced to twenty-seven years in prison, and in order for him to be released he was to be castrated. The castration didn’t take place until thirteen years after he was sentenced.
4. My question is this, why should those--now women--fear for themselves or their own children once this man was released? Yes, he was castrated, but his sick and twisted mind is still able to run the streets.
C. An article written by Ronald Smothers also of The New York Times details an incident with a Georgia school teacher named Eliot Wiggington, who pled guilty to one count of child molestation.
1. In all actuality, a total of twenty people testified that they were violated by the man as a child between 1969 and 1982.
2. Eliot Wiggington was sentenced to one year in prison and nineteen years of probation.
3. This man was obviously a habitual predator. Who knows how many children he actually molested besides just the twenty who testified?
4. This paints the picture that sexually abusing the innocent children of our world is not a heinous enough crime, because if it were, offenders would not be given a second chance.
Now let’s get a better understanding of the effects of sexual abuse.
II. There are many symptoms shown by children who have been sexually abused.
A. According to An article titled “Child Abuse” found in The Columbia Encyclopedia online, the symptoms shown vary by the age of the child.
1. For example, preschool-age children may experience anxiety, nightmares or sexually acting out.
2. School age children may show fear, aggression, school problems, hyperactivity and regressive behaviors.
3. Adolescents are more likely to be depressed, attempt suicide, abuse substances, or participate in illegal behavior.
B. The long term effects that sexual abuse has on a child can continue well into adulthood.
1. They are often extensions of coping mechanisms that helped during childhood, but have a negative impact on everyday adult functions.
2. As you can see, a child who is sexually abused literally has their life torn apart in front of them. Their lives from that point on will never be the same, their innocence is stolen from them, and their overall outlook on life will be forever altered.
Let’s talk a little about why the current way the Justice System deals with these cases isn’t effective…..
III. These innocent victims’ lives are ruined from the very beginning of the abuse.
A. No amount of time or punishment will ever give these children their lives back.
1. However, the justice system can protect the innocence of potential future victims.
2. Putting somebody into a correctional facility for a little while for this type of crime gives me the whole “out of sight, out of mind” feel.
3. Sure, their life is put on hold for a while until that anxiously awaited release date, but what about the victims struggling everyday on the outside?
B. It should not matter to what degree you ruin a child’s life.
1. There is no difference between seven year old Timmy in Florida, and five year old Samantha in Louisiana, so why should their predators receive different sentences?
2. How does one state give a slap on the wrist and another state sentence the death penalty for the same crime?
3. Five year old Samantha shouldn’t have to be terrified for her tenth birthday because her offender’s five year prison sentence is up.
4. These are our children, and we as parents, teachers, police officers and even Judges serve the purpose to protect them.
Let’s discuss what punishment would be most beneficial; after all, it’s all about the victims here.
IV. All sex offenders should be sentenced to life for their unfathomable crimes.
A. Imagine this from a child molester’s perspective:
1. Thirty-five year old Rick serves a six year prison term in Georgia for the molestation of a child.
2. Once his time is served and he is released, he feels the need to molest again.
3. To fulfill his needs, Rick decides to do some internet research on New York child molestation laws, and realizes that it looks as if he can get away with his chosen crime a bit more easily there—if he even gets caught.
4. Rick proceeds to pack his belongings, and relocate to New York. Simple as that.
5. The point is, if a person is determined to find a way around things to get what they want, chances are they will.
6. Having said that, if Rick would have been incarcerated for life in the first place, there would not have been the possibility of another child’s life ruined.
B. According to New Orleans City Business, former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco states their laws are the toughest.
1. Blanco stated, “Louisiana law makes the rape of any child punishable by mandatory life in prison without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. If convicted in Louisiana the sexual predator never leaves our prison system.”
2. Blanco also stated that, “Louisiana may be the only state that allows a jury to sentence a child sexual predator to death. Our laws are tough. I want them to be the toughest in the nation.”
3. Kathleen Blanco’s firm belief that Louisiana has an accomplished system that will rid their state of child molesters should continue throughout the other states.
Connective: There are many different approaches and a vast array of arguments on this subject matter.
CONCLUSION
Summary: Some may believe that child molesters deserve to receive the death penalty, some may believe they can be medically treated, and others think that a good long prison sentence will bring justice. In most circumstances, it isn’t the peoples’ decision to take another human being’s life. Doing this would just cause more harm than good, and as a result no offender would learn their lesson. It would be in our children's best interest to sentence offenders to life in prison with no possibility of parole. In using this penalty, children can remain safe and taken care of, as well as the prisoners may still have some sort of life in which they will dread upon every day. The offenders would still be allowed visitations with their loved ones—that is, if they have any. This is the most constitutional approach to this growing situation in preventing these offenders from repeatedly committing these crimes.
Think back to the story of helpless little Baby Brianna. Let's form together to end this widespread disease called child abuse.

Thanks for reading!

-Kristin Silvers