Burr Campaign Launches New Digital Ad Campaign After Ross Remains Silent On Sex Offender Registry | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, NC     Today, the Burr for Senate campaign announced a new digital ad buy after Deborah Ross continues to remain silent on her fight against establishing a sex offender registry in North Carolina when she was the chief lobbyist for the ACLU. In 1995, Ross opposed establishing a sex offender registry, citing possible "vigilantism" as a primary concern. The online petition campaign will give North Carolinians an opportunity to call on Ross to answer for why she chose to put sex offenders' rights over the safety of North Carolina families.

    Statement from the Burr Campaign: "After 7 months as a candidate for U.S. Senate, Deborah Ross has failed to provide any explanation at all for why she fought against a commonsense sex offender registry in North Carolina even when pressed by her Democratic primary opponents. It's clear that as the ACLU's chief lobbyist, Ross felt the rights of convicted sex offenders were more important than the safety of innocent people. Now North Carolinians will have an opportunity to demand Ross answer for her radical record."

• 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)
• 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