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State Rep. Jeff Thompson, (R-LA), on the state’s new law that requires sex offenders to post their status on social networking sites.
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To beginning August 1 and new Louisiana State law will require sex offenders and child predators to list -- criminal status on FaceBook.
And other social media web sites the -- builds upon existing sex registration laws.
Which require offenders to notify immediate neighbors and nearby schools of his or her status.
The author of the while Louisiana State representative Jeff Thompson joins me now by phone.
Represented Thompson thanks for joining us tonight is this important to you.
Well it's important to meet.
First of all as a parent and secondly I have a responsibility.
To the constituents -- in this district in the state but it you know.
Hopefully -- expand across the nation to do everything acting in.
To help protect the children.
Of this region of this nation.
Because we've got a lot of people out there they use the Internet to troll talk on children.
Yet it's how did that idea I'm always a stickler for the logistics of making these things work.
How -- check and make sure that the offenders are registered properly.
Well an -- I'm glad you brought that up because you know it's an easy group to pick -- but there's just walk him about that occur very thoughtful and deliberative process.
What this is intended to do is provide another important tool to prosecutors.
Because British food are spenders child predators Louisiana since 1993.
I've been required to provide -- -- the neighbors.
Notices to schools and our.
This is just a natural expansion.
You can't even make sure that there we're just tight on time some wanna make sure we get all out there how are you gonna make sure that when they go online that they really are telling people this -- who I am.
And not either having multiple identity is on FaceBook corps are how do you -- -- today's tell -- what I'm not on FaceBook and here they are under another -- I -- it seems tough to enforce.
It wouldn't it -- ultimate objective would just to keep some money off of FaceBook you read more typical what this is intended to do is provide prosecutors.
What the opportunity in the course of an investigation when you have either fictitious side the -- someone Asia using -- -- identity but not provide in the noticed.
If in the courtroom investigation and they are trying to solicit -- harm children if -- not not registered.
This gives prosecutors have to assume people back -- -- So it's more ammunition after the fact as opposed to being a -- preventative thing it.
It is -- -- also sadly enough you know child predator could not necessarily real -- to rule followers to begin with.
You know they've broken all they've broken -- FaceBook term of service which I applaud them for having.
But we've got to provide some big withdrawal piece for those out there what's -- -- report.
Yet sound like at the end of the day it's still up to parents to -- their first line of defense -- Absolutely this is in no way intended to replace -- current obligation to know your children -- acting weird.
We know that if we have a child predator living next to -- we know that we have -- here school.
We should know that about people who come into our home by the Internet as well.
Interesting representative thanks for coming on tonight talking to us about this week.
We appreciate it.
Look like he is very important piece of litigation -- legislation and we hope this can be useful for prosecutors and we're glad distinction look at the model after as well thanks so much for your time.
