My name is Aaron Long. First and foremost I love my family and don't blame them at all, only myself. All this started when I was in my teens. I ended up with a sex addiction, probably because i was exposed to porn at an early age. From 18-21 I slept with alot of women. My relationships never worked out so I always turned to what felt good and gave me an escape, which was a lot of one night stands, and substance abuse. I ended up sleeping with 4 minors at the age of 21 out of 84 females, the other 80 were adults. Anyway, I caught statutory rape charges. Which is wrong and I know it is unacceptable. I screwed up and ended up getting a 40 do 10. I spent close to 7 years in prison. I absolutely lost everything. It was extremely hard on me, my family, the victims and their families. Everyone involved suffered. I have in the meantime, worked hard on bettering myself. In prison, I completed all the programs I could and surrounded myself with people that had the same mindset. I'm 32 about to turn 33 now and have NOT reoffended.

But I can't live like this. The rules set for me make living a semi normal life impossible. When I got out of prison I fell in love, she was around my age, and we was perfect for eachother. Problem was she had two kids and an ex husband. My counselor ended up making us break up and told us we can't see eachother. Yeah...A GROWN WOMAN is also a problem.. I never was around her kids or anything. We did not put them in danger. My counselor made us go through steps that were impossible for her to go through with. Even after months of not seeing eachother. This woman is the only thing that is keeping me going in life.. The rules need to be changed. I should be able to be around a grown woman and shouldn't have to worry about any consequences. She's kept me in a positive direction in life and I love her. Change the rules so that this isn't a problem!!! Don't make others suffer!!

Honestly, I had no idea what was awaiting me when I paroled out. It didn't really hit me how bad all this really was. I was given a mountain of paperwork, which was my parole and registry rules I had to follow. Which put me in despair and lost all hope for ever having a good future or a family of my own. So again I did meet a good woman who was willing to give me a chance and we fell in love. We never was in an official relationship because it was against the rules but she was mine and I was hers. It wasn't until almost 2 years later that had to end. The first counselor let me have it and the new counselor told me I was not even allowed to see her. She's 27 years old by the way. But the problem was she had kids.

On December the 4th, 2024. I tried my best to kill myself. I found out the woman i fell in love with was months pregnant with another man's baby. I overdosed. I couldn't take it anymore. I was found in an empty lot barely alive 19 hrs later. I wasnt breathing and at one point during the ride to the hospital my heart stopped. Luckily I didnt suffer any permanent damage from all the stuff i tried to use. The officers saved my life. I was then put in a mental health facility for another 7 days to be evaluated.. I've been home for 7 months now. 

Nobody should be able to tell two grown adults they can't be together. Regardless of my progress, the system will not let me live my life and be with this woman... All of her family knows about me and they know I'm not that same person that went to prison. We were careful and made sure I was never around them. Im not even allowed to see her for lunch or coffee. Im interrogated every few months to see if I've had any direct contact... We had to end things and we both suffered greatly because we honestly love each other. I have given up her though and I need your help so this doesn't keep happening.. 

Since I've been out of prison I've committed no crimes and have been a law abiding, tax paying citizen of society. I've held a job the entire time. I support my sister and do what I can for those around me. I'm no longer that immature younger version of myself from almost 10 years ago. The Last polygraph I was forced to take, I got in trouble and was handed a violation for being with this grown woman. All because I didn't go through the "steps". Which included getting her Ex-husband involved. I had to sign a release form so my counselor could call him and make sure he knew his Ex-wife was dating a sex offender. For what purpose? Because of something I did 10 years ago? At what point can i just live in peace. This lead to a multitude of issues. The registry isn't meant to protect people in my situation. All it does is destroy people's lives. I could continue to tell you how it's destroyed my life in many different ways but you get the picture. I know that the victims and their families also suffered. I absolutely hate that I wasn't smarter and avoided putting them through all this. I would absolutely go back in time and change things if I could. I've spent the last 10 years beating myself up. But I can't do it anymore.. for my families sake also. The only way I can make this right is to become the best man that I can be. I have a 17 year old brother I'm not even allowed to be around. We have never been able to have a brothers relationship because of these rules. Again. Change this insane rules. I haven't committed a crime since I was 21. A kid. I'm almost 33 now doing the right thing and a law abiding citizen.

Not every person you see on that registry should be on it. Especially the ones charged with less serious sex charges like Statutory Rape at a young age. I should be held accountable but I've served my time. I spent almost all my 20s behind bars from the time I was able to drink. I've been out for 3 years and have not reoffended. I'm not that same stupid person. Change the rules so that people like me that have been out and have not committed any crimes in years. To get an EARLY release from the registry. But still finish the probation that was set by the court. Not 40 years from now. Let's be real this isn't nazi Germany. Let people live their lives. Especially people like me. That list may serve a purpose and its restrictions might be good for the really sick individuals. Im not that though.

Another issue, is the process of getting out after paying your dues and still being punished for doing the right thing..."Right" meaning living your life without committing actual crimes as any other person would be doing. The process in place does nothing but isolate, demoralize, and create its own internal physiological issues in those individuals. The registry is used more to drive a stake between them, friends, family, while labeling those individuals as enemies of the state, destroying any possibility of acquiring well paying jobs, and ruining relationships that can be beneficial to both parties. Not all sex crimes are the same, nor should they be grouped all in the same pot. I was 21 when I committed this. If I finish all my probation I'll be 72. Then I'll have to wait 10 years to petition to get off of it. So I'll be 82 by the time I can live My life if nothing changes. Change the rules!! Don't isolate us and make us enemies from the world. The transition into society and doing the right thing should mean something. Get the people off that are doing good.

The sex offender registry takes away my rights, as a tax paying citizen who have paid their debt to society. People can say what they want about the registry not being punitive, but in reality it is punitive. A person on the registry cannot work at most places, cannot live in most areas, cannot go to church without permission, cannot use the internet, cannot travel without notifying the police in person and in writing, cannot have an email address unless they register it with the police in person and in writing, have to register anywhere they are located for more than 3 days consecutively, or visits more than 6 times in a 6 month period, is not allowed into any public parks or pools, cannot attend schools, cannot obtain a visa for travel, must register phone numbers in person and writing to the police, and must register any changes of any of the above in person and in writing, and the list goes on, along with ignorant and angry citizens taking vigilante violence against these ex-offenders who have paid for their crimes and are on a public list. Which cannot own firearms to protect themselves. Cannot have a relationship with a GROWN woman with children. Which im not trying to be around them, we don't want to get married until they are grown to avoid problems. I cannot even see my own family if they are underage even though my crime wasn't committed against family members. This is only some of the of the rules. What happens if the registered EX-sex offenders fail to abide by any of the above? 2-15 years to life in prison. What happens if the EX-offender does the right thing and wants to get off the registry? They must complete ALL probation and then wait 10 years or more after to appeal to be removed.

Who hasn't made mistakes in their youth? Regardless if you got caught or not. You realize now that your older, how stupid you were. Just because you smoked Marijuana once when you was a teenager doesn't make you a drug addict. My crime was 10 years ago. Yet, I can't be with a grown woman now at 32 because she has children? I can't take her out for lunch or the movies or have sex with her because I didn't go through the proper steps that a therapist made up out of thin air thats not a part of my rules?? 

Regardless of it's intent, the registry offers real punishment for the sole purpose that someone may commit a crime, and that IS unconstitutional... I have not reoffended. Will NOT reoffend. And am on the right path. Stop DESTROYING my life. Revise the registry. Give me a chance to get off the registry within a few years. Speed up the process. Transitioning offenders back into society as normal tax paying citizens. Yeah, I know this is a big money scheme. Offenders pay 45$ a week for counseling. 225$ for polygraphs every 3 or 6 months. The therapists don't release the people for years. And something like watching porn puts you right back in the program. Something the entire world has a struggle with.

So I request, as a citizen, and a taxpayer that the registry to be redone and since I have served time on it and not reoffended. I also request to be taken off the Sex offender registry. I am now a law abiding citizen trying to live a normal peaceful life. If you agree and feel like I should have a second chance at life. Please sign and support this petition.