Ross Remains Silent On Her Opposition To A Sex Offender Registry In NC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, NC     Despite Deborah Ross' best attempts to ignore her radical record, positions such as opposing an online sex offender registry in North Carolina will be impossible for her out run. Former ACLU Lobbyist Ross has refused to offer North Carolinians an explanation for opposing a sex offender registry or why she felt it wouldn't protect children.

    Statement from the Burr Campaign: "Deborah Ross' refusal to provide an explanation for opposing a sex offender registry is deeply troubling and out of touch with North Carolina values. North Carolinians deserve an answer from Ross on why she would side with the rights of convicted sex offenders over women and children."

• In 1995, Ross Criticized The Creation Of A Sex Offender Registry Saying The Bill, "Would Make It Even Harder For People To Reintegrate Into Society And Start Over And Could Lead To Vigilantism." (Deborah Ross Memo To The Legislative Committee Of The ACLU-NC, 8/4/95)
• In 1997, Ross Was Opposed To An Online Sex Offender Registry In North Carolina Saying "It Will Have Unintended Consequences" And It Won't Protect Children. "People checking offender lists might be surprised by what they find, some skeptics predict. They might discover people they know - not strangers who threaten their children. And even though victims' names are supposed to remain private, those involving family members won't be too hard to figure out. 'It will have unintended consequences,' said Deborah Ross, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. 'It's another high-profile attempt to deal with the problem,' Ross added. 'The question is: Is this going to protect the kids?' Her answer: no. Ross said the state could do much more to protect children by improving treatment for sex offenders and by helping families at risk of sexual abuse." (Foon Rhee and Kathleen McClain, "Senate Broadens Sex Offender List," Charlotte Observer, 5/22/97)
• Ross Said "There Are Serious Concerns About What People Do With This Information" And Warned Of "Vigilantism." "At the same time, a registry this public could pose a threat to the idea of community itself. 'There are serious concerns about what people do with this information,' says Deborah Ross, director of the North Carolina affiliate of the ACLU. 'There's no oversight, and there's no specific rules about how to use it--that's where we will get into the problems of improper identification and vigilantism.'" (Austin Bunn, "Digitizing Megan's Law," The Village Voice, 4/21/98)
• Ross Said "One Would Hope That Law Enforcement Would Enforce The Law Against Vigilantes And Harassers Of Sex Offenders As Much As They Do Against Sex Offenders Themselves." "The passing of Megan's Law drew critical attention to the risks of violence against children, but online registries like North Carolina's walk a fine line between civic duty and 'exploiting paranoia,' says the ACLU's Ross. 'One would hope that law enforcement would enforce the law against vigilantes and harassers of sex offenders as much as they do against sex offenders themselves.' But with their past on public display, it's hard to believe these offenders will ever be granted the gift of privacy." (Austin Bunn, "Digitizing Megan's Law," The Village Voice, 4/21/98)

• Contact: Jesse Hunt
•     jhunt@burrforsenate.com