https://www.facebook.com/joe.cheray/videos/1660908260930708

My Speech today at the Press conference 

4 years ago we stood in this very room and told our story of what happened to our son. Along with so many other survivors. Every person in the room that day had the same question. Why do we need a bill for this when it should be common sense?! Common sense to protect ANY child. Over 4 years ago our 10 year old son was sexually abused and raped by two teens in our former church. When we came  to our pastor he didn't help us go to the police. Instead he asked us "to pray for 24 hours." In that time the church went to the families of the two boys and botched our entire case. They called what happened " sexual exploration " If they would have been mandated to report what happened then our son would have received justice and closure and instead those boys have gone on to commit further acts of harm on others. 

So here we stand today.... no law no protection for these kids. I urge every member of the senate and house to take a moment and put yourself in the shoes of the victims and their families. What if that was your child that was raped? Their lives shattered? Wouldn't you do Anything that it takes to protect them? To help STOP it from happening to another child? How many children have been sexually abused while you have stood by and done absolutely nothing.  Sheldons law Senate bill 75 passed through the senate with a unanimous vote. It moved to the house Judiciary committee 2 years ago and then COVID hit. Our hearing on the house side was canceled two days away. Now the bill has been tabled and pushed aside more times than we can even understand. Repeated emails and phone calls have had zero response from Kelly Warren and  the Judiciary Chair. There are other bills that protect Kansas kids being ignored as well. . The Judiciary Chair and committe Simply don't care  about Kansas kids Kelly Warren says that "They are putting Kansas families first" but Which families is she interested in putting first? Because it isn't the victimized...

Yet here we stand once again in the same room asking you to do the right thing! How much longer will you ignore the safety of Kansas Kids Kelly Warren and the Judiciary committee.  How much longer will you deny hearings for bills that protect Kansas kids. Only to push your own agenda? 

SCR1624 needs and deserves to be heard. You owe it to every child you and the Judiciary committee have let fall through the cracks!! Put it to a vote!!! 

Every human being should report any form of abuse against a child. 

CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW THAT IF THEY SHOW THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD THEIR TENDER VOICES WILL BE HEARD!! They will be believed and they will receive help and safety from those that are hurting them!!! 

Every year we relive the trauma as we fight for justice and change in Kansas. It is hard to go over the details of what happened and still ask WHY AREN'T YOU PROTECTING KANSAS KIDS?! Every night when I go to sleep I pray for the children of Kansas because I know that more are being hurt and raped their lives and the lives of their families being shattered.. This should have been done a long time ago!!! 

Now will you do the right thing?!  We aren't going away and In fact we are growing in numbers and strength of survivors and their families!!! 

Give us a hearing and do what you should have done in the first place!!! NO MORE VICTIMS WHEN IT CAN BE PREVENTED!!!!

-SHELDONS MOM