April 22nd, 2007
FL tough on online sex crimes
Florida beefed up its reputation for getting tough on Internet predators, as the state Legislature unanimously approved a bill that sets a maximum 15-year prison term for contacting a child online and attempting to meet the child for sexual purposes, says the Tallahassee Democrat.
Attorney General Bill McCollum and Leon County Sheriff Larry Campbell, head of the Florida Sheriffs Association, praised lawmakers for fast action on the proposal. McCollum and legislators are also working on budget provisions to increase his "cyber crimes" unit from six to 56 employees, adding several more offices to its current Jacksonville base.
The bill passed unanimously, as did the Senate. Guess it's hard to drum up a vote in favor of child predators.
"These are sick, perverted individuals," Argenziano said at a news conference with McCollum, Campbell and other legislators and sheriffs from across the state. "They have an insatiable desire to have sex with children."
"We're going to see some people take notice around the country that Florida is the toughest state on child pornographers and child predators on the Internet, of any of the 50 states," said McCollum
