It is clear that this country has been way too lenient on crimes against children. Many offenders are given mere months to a few years in prison when crimes against children are known collectively to be one of the most disgusting and heinous. Anyone who takes advantage of a child’s innocence should be punished severely for robbing them of having a normal functioning life. Children have to live for the rest of their lives with the trauma of what happens to them when they are young and defenseless.

     It is up to us as a community to tell our lawmakers and judges that we would like to see minimum sentences of 25 years and up to keep repeat offenses from happening and to deter offenders from offending in the first place. If a child must live for years with that traumatic experience, then the offender must be given a punishment that can compare in some possible way. 

     It is time for a change. Instead of a just reposting a hashtag, we have the opportunity to make real change. We must not give up this fight. We owe it to our children to help give them a semblance of justice. It’s time to make this change and start seeing less and less cases of child abuse and sexual offenses. If an offender gets away with a crime once, they are prone to repeat it. Let’s save our children.