My name is known by you as a committed advocate for child safety, but what you may not know is why. I am a survivor of child sexual assault. This traumatic experience fuels my passion to protect children and minimize the chances of them suffering as I once did.

We live in a society where over 800,000 registered sex offenders exist in the United States (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016). It is utterly horrifying to realize that many of these individuals can reside in proximity to schools, parks, or other child-dominant areas.

This is a matter we can no longer sidestep. We must push for legislation that mandates distance restrictions for sex offenders from areas where children commonly gather. Many states already have such laws, showing it is possible and worth fighting for at a national level. Research has shown that such restrictions significantly decrease the rate of child sexual assaults (Journal of Law and Economics, 2008).

Our children should have the right to freedom and safety in their communities. We need to make it a priority to minimize potential threats in their environment. It's time to end the loopholes, heighten the safety of our children, and provide societal reassurances for survivors of sexual assault, like myself.

Please, sign this petition to demand government officials implement distance restrictions for sex offenders from child-dominant areas. Together, we can safeguard the innocence of our children and help create a safer society for all. Sign today, so no child endures what I suffered.