Sex Offenders Stay On Facebook In Louisiana

Moms and Dads, it would be wise to keep your eye on what they kids are doing online. More specifically, on Facebook.

That may sound like a no brainer, but if you aren't aware, Louisiana cannot ban Sex Offenders from using Facebook. There was a bill in the state legislature that became law that would ban certain sex offenders from websites where the primary purpose is "facilitating social interaction with other users of the website and which allows users to create web pages or profiles about themselves that are available to the public or other users."

The law, which took effect in August, made it a crime for sex offenders convicted of a certain list of crimes to use networking websites, chat rooms and peer-to-peer networks. That law was overturned in February by U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson, based in Baton Rouge. Jackson said the law was unconstitutional because it would effectively ban those sex offenders from the Internet.

Well, that is all well and good, had been allowed to become a law. Seems as though the ACLU decided to step in and stop the bill, so far as the state actually cut a check to the ACLU for the court costs and have said they will not pursue to overturn the ban.

Confused yet?

Seems as though, the ACLU is here to protect the 1st Amendment Rights of everyone...including Sex Offenders. According the head of the ACLU, "Louisiana was wise to settle this case now, because the First Amendment rights of the people of this state must be protected at all times.The taxpayers of Louisiana should not have to bear additional costs in defending a law that should never have been passed in the first place."

So until the State Legislature passes a new law that will pass muster in court, as the ACLU will try to sue again, it is incumbent to all of us as parents to make sure our kids are protected. Keep a short leash. The kids may hate it, but if it protects them, then so be it. I would rather be hated because I protected my kids, than hated for not protecting them.