I am a survivor. For 30 heartrending years, immersed in therapy, I struggled to gather the strength to face my abuser. Triumphantly overcoming personal despair, I was met not with a path to justice, but a closed door. The statute of limitations, the legal time frame within which a victim can issue a complaint against their abusers, had expired.

I am not alone. I have spoken to hundreds of other survivors who have encountered the same impediment when attempting to seek justice. Like me, their path to recovery took time. Time that ironically prevents them from pursuing legal action against their perpetrators. Statutes of limitations vary across jurisdictions, often limiting victims to initiate legal actions within a couple of years after the assault or discovery of harm.

Child abuse is rife. Every 73 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted - and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child (RAINN). Society, it seems, is angled against the victim. Even more concerning is the chilling reality that child abuse is worse than murder because the victim is forced to live with it daily-forever.

We have a chance to rectify this injustice. Removing the statute of limitations for child abuse cases is imperative. The complex psychology of trauma often requires time for victims to fully realize and accept the depth of their suffering, and victims need the support of the legal system to obtain justice, even if it is delayed.

Together, we can influence legislative change. Help end the silence imposed by this damaging legal timeframe and ensure that every survivor has their day in court. This is about justice; this is about making a stand for every survivor's right to face their abuser.

Please sign this petition and urge our lawmakers to remove the statute of limitations for child abuse survivors in Ohio. Your support can make a significant difference. Only then will true healing begin.