Knight's Law 2.0: Protecting Our Children Is a National Priority
Hey there, we're rebooting our campaign for change—kicked up a notch. This time we're going NATIONAL because every child across our country deserves to be safe. Sounds like something we can all get behind, right?
**Approximately 93% of ALL sex crime victims in the US are minor children, under the age of 18.**
You see, my 14-year-old cousin and her friends were horrifically taken from us by a predator—a convicted pedophile who was inexplicably released early from prison despite pending charges. These were not small charges, mind you. We're talking about solicitation of a minor and possession of child p*rnography, all of which took place while he was supposedly under the "care" of the State. And yet, he was unleashed back into society to not only re-offend, but also to take lives. Jesse McFadden was a name the State knew to be dangerous; they had evidence and yet released him three years early. He went on to murder six innocent souls and never faced trial, as he was later found dead.
This isn't just a failure, it's a catastrophe - a sign that our system is fundamentally flawed.
So, let's ask the hard questions. Why does the current legal system appear to prioritize the rights of convicted sex offenders over the safety of our kids and women? How can we let someone walk free when we know they're a ticking time bomb?
Our petition is named in honor of the Henryetta Knights, the school mascot for my cousin and her friends—students who deserved to experience life, not the end of it. We're fighting not just for Ivy Webster, Brittany Brewer, Tiffany Guess, Michael Mayo, and Rylee Allen; but for every child who deserves justice, freedom, and a future.
What Can You Do? By putting pen to paper, or rather finger to click, you're taking a stand for all the young Knights— passed (fight for justice), present (fight for freedom), and future (fight for innocence).
Find printable resources to promote the petition here: Printable resources and petition updates!
Ignoring this issue? Well, that's equivalent to saying it's fine for these predators to walk free and destroy the lives of our children. Taking no action is an action.
We're not just raising awareness; we're demanding immediate action. Why should you care? Jesse McFadden targeted his victims on the same social media apps that your children are using. Snap Chat, TikTok, and Instagram, to name a few. It is just a matter of time before your children, a neighbor, a classmate, a friend, a grandchild, a nephew, or a niece, are impacted by inaction.
Your signature counts more than you know. Please share this petition far and wide. If you believe our children are safe, you’re wrong.
Be passionate about making change in your state. Your support is not just appreciated, it’s NECESSARY; CRUCIAL. This is a fight we're in together—so let's make our voices heard loud and clear.Stand up. Speak out. Save lives!
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DEFINITIONS from this point forward:
Sex Crime: Rape; sodomy; rape by instrument; lewd conduct with conspiracy to commit a sex act; child enticement/endangerment; possession or production of child p*rn.
A child: Anyone under the age of 18.
Sex Offender: Registered sex offender on the national sex offender registry.
FIRST Priority Laws:
1. Any person CONVICTED of a sex crime against a child serves a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
End the Revolving Door for Child Sex Offenders: Are you tired of seeing headlines about child sex offenders reoffending within months of their release? Do you believe that the safety of our children should be our first priority? It's time for justice that matches the severity of the crime. Under Knight's Law 2.0, anyone convicted of a sex crime against a child will face a life sentence with no possibility of parole, because some people simply can't be rehabilitated.
2. Romeo and Juliet Laws enacted in EVERY state.
The Sticky Situation: We all remember the intensity of teenage love, but what if that love landed you or someone you know with a lifelong label as a sex offender? Inconsistencies in age-of-consent laws across states can turn young love into a criminal offense. There’s currently Romeo and Juliet Laws in multiple states. This law says that if BOTH parties consent to the sexual act and are of the age of consent, then a parent can’t file statutory rape charges if BOTH parties consented to the action.
What We Stand For: With Knight's Law 2.0, we want to standardize Romeo and Juliet Laws on a national level. Our goal is to differentiate between consensual relationships among teens and young adults, and predatory sexual behavior. We want to ensure that young people aren't labeled for life due to legal technicalities or vindictive parents. Help us separate youthful passion from criminal intent, allowing our legal system to focus on prosecuting actual predators, not hormonal teens.
3. A mandatory notice sent to every resident within five miles of the sex offenders registered home and work address.
The Shocking Reality: Picture this - you're at a local fast-food joint with your kids. Would you be comfortable knowing that a registered sex offender is taking your order? Probably not, right? How about your child working with a registered sex offender one on one? Yet, that could be happening right now because current laws don't mandate disclosure when a sex offender gains new employment in a public-facing job.
With regard to hiring, the business has a duty to ensure the patrons and employees are made aware if they are working/engaging with a sex offender, and the company should also be held liable if a sex crime is committed on their property by the registered sex offender, or while in the course and scope of employment.
If a sex offender gains employment, then the community has a right to be made aware – we would like mandatory community notifications sent to residents within a five-mile radius.
The Other Issue: Imagine discovering that your new neighbor is a registered sex offender and you had no idea. The concern for your family's safety would be overwhelming. Currently, there's no requirement for communities to be notified when a registered sex offender moves in through a rental or purchase.
Our Action Plan: Knight's Law 2.0 proposes to bolster community safety through increased transparency in the real estate and rental markets. Landlords will be mandated to complete background checks and inform the community if they rent to a convicted sex offender. Similarly, realtors will be obligated to disclose information on all registered sex offenders within a 10-mile radius during the closing process of a home sale.
4. Require background checks on all marriage applications, if a party is identified as a sex offender then the other party is notified. The marriage application will be automatically denied if the non-offender entering this union has minor children.
The Problem: Believe it or not, convicted sexual offenders can still apply for a marriage certificate without any significant hurdles, even if their intended spouse has children. This loophole places families and children at unimaginable risk.
Our Solution: Let's amend the marriage certificate application process to require comprehensive background checks for both parties. If one of them is a convicted sexual offender and the other party has children, the court will automatically dismiss the application. Let's make marriage a safer institution for everyone involved, most importantly for the kids who can't protect themselves.
5. Convicted child sex offenders should not be granted custody of any child. They should also be prohibited by law from residing with any child.
Protect Our Kids, Inside and Out: Can you imagine a convicted child sex offender gaining custody of a child, or even just living in a home with one? It's a nightmare scenario, and unfortunately, it's one that the law doesn't adequately prevent. Under Knight's Law 2.0, we're drawing a clear line in the sand: convicted child sex offenders would be absolutely prohibited from gaining custody or even living in the same home as anyone under 18 — no exceptions, no loopholes, no parental consent as a workaround. This is about making sure our laws are as strong as our instinct to protect our children. Don't let legal loopholes put our kids in danger.
Accountability Laws for Sex Offenders:
6. After being released from prison, failure to register as a sex offender should be a felony charge.
Stop Negligent Parenting, Stop Offenders: What if a parent or guardian willingly allowed a convicted sexual offender to have access to their child? Unthinkable, right? Yet, gaps in our current laws make it possible. Knight's Law 2.0 would slap criminal charges on any parent or guardian who knowingly allows such a terrifying scenario. No excuses.
Make Failure to Register a Serious Crime: We need to treat failure to register as a sex offender as what it is: a high-stakes crime. With Knight's Law 2.0, anyone failing to register would face a mandatory minimum prison term, followed by years of electronic monitoring.
First Offense: 2 years in prison + 3 years electronic monitoringSecond Offense: 5 years in prison + 5 years electronic monitoringThird or More Offenses: 15 years in prison + 10 years electronic monitoring
It's time to hold offenders accountable and make it unimaginable for any parent or guardian to put a child in harm's way. We need your signature to make this a reality.
7. Require all states to be in compliance with Megan’s Law.
The Gap in Our Defense: Did you know that not all states fully comply with Megan's Law? That means there are gaps in our nation's system for tracking and notifying communities about sex offenders, especially when they cross state lines. It's like having a smoke detector that only works half the time.
Our Solution: Knight's Law 2.0 calls for all states to be in full compliance with Megan’s Law, closing the loopholes in our safety net. Beyond that, we're pushing for real-time community notifications within a 5-mile radius whenever a sex offender moves to a new address. These aren't just a name and a number; we want comprehensive notifications that include photographs, physical identifiers, and details about their criminal record. Plus, we'll guide you on how to report any concerns to law enforcement. Help us weave a stronger, more reliable safety net across America.
8. All child sex crimes need to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the state level Bureau of Investigation.
The Issue: When it comes to investigating child sex crimes, the stakes are unimaginably high. These sensitive cases demand a specialized skill set for conducting thorough, unbiased investigations. Yet, far too often, local agencies without this specific expertise are tasked with these critical responsibilities.
Our Action Plan: Knight's Law 2.0 proposes that all child sex crimes be investigated by either the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the respective state-level Bureau of Investigation. By ensuring that only trained specialists handle these high-stakes cases, we raise the likelihood of perpetrators facing justice and being removed from society, while also providing the victim a greater sense of trust in the system.
If you agree that specialized agencies should be leading these crucial investigations, sign this petition today. Together, we can improve the integrity of child sex crime investigations and serve justice where it's most needed.
9. Once convicted of a sex crime, the sex offender should have to serve their entire sentence in prison; there should be no ability to earn early release credit.
The Concern: When we release sexual offenders back into society, we're rolling the dice. Not only do they have a high likelihood of reoffending, but they can even continue their criminal actions while in custody.
Our Solution: Knight's Law 2.0 aims to put a stop to this by eliminating any chance for these offenders to earn early release credits. It means serving the full sentence, no exceptions. But we're taking it a step further. If an offender commits a similar offense while in prison, whether that's sexual assault on another inmate or using a contraband phone to exploit children, an automatic 20-year extension will be added to their sentence.
Time to say 'enough is enough.' We need to have a zero-tolerance policy for those who exploit the most vulnerable among us.
10. The state should be held accountable every time they fail to inform the victims of their offender’s release, no immunity.
The Problem: Imagine surviving the trauma of a sexual assault only to one day cross paths with your offender—unaware that they had been released. A failure to notify victims of an offender's release adds insult to injury and can be deeply retraumatizing. Enforced the current law in place.
Our Solution: Under Knight's Law 2.0, the state would have an absolute obligation—without immunity from accountability—to inform prior victims about the release of their offenders. If the state fails in this duty, it must face legal consequences. This law ensures that you're never left in the dark and are given the respect and safety you deserve… because being informed should be a right, not a privilege.
11. Once classified as a sex offender, any subsequent sex crime charges will require the offender to be held without bond until their trial.
The Problem: Imagine a sex offender, already convicted once, is arrested again for a similar crime but is quickly released on bond. The possibility of reoffending before trial is not only terrifying but also dangerous to our community.
Our Solution: Knight's Law 2.0 demands that anyone who is already classified as a sex offender and faces subsequent charges for similar crimes be held without bond until their trial. This ensures that our neighborhoods are safer and survivors can breathe easier, knowing that the perpetrator can't harm others while awaiting trial. Furthermore, in cases of extreme violence with compelling evidence, even first-time offenders may be held without bond at the discretion of the presiding judge (this is the current law which is rarely enforced). A person with a history of sexual offenses shouldn't have the opportunity to victimize anyone else while waiting for their day in court. Let's close the loophole and keep our community safe.
Laws for school:
12. To ensure student safety, we would require all schools to use the Raptor System and to be fully fenced.
The Problem: Despite advancements in technology, many schools still lag in securing the safety of our kids. We need a modern, efficient way to screen anyone who steps foot on school grounds to ensure they pose no threat to students.
Our Solution: Implement the Raptor System in every school across the nation. This system scans state-issued driver's licenses to instantly check for violent or sexual assault convictions. If a match is found, local authorities are alerted immediately. For schools with existing facial recognition technology, databases must be updated consistently as new offenders move into the area.
13. Federally mandated training to those on the front lines - child welfare agencies, law enforcement, and educators (both public and private schools).
The Unsettling Truth: Every day, well-intended cops, teachers, and child welfare agents miss crucial signs of child sexual abuse and trafficking. It's not always their fault; they're often undertrained and overwhelmed.
Our Mission: Under Knight's Law 2.0, we're not leaving child safety to chance or gut feelings. We're calling for federal mandates to provide comprehensive training to those on the front lines—our child welfare agencies, law enforcement personnel, and educators in both public and private schools. They'll be armed with the tools they need to spot the red flags and take immediate action. Let’s make sure those who are tasked with protecting our kids have the tools to do it. It's like equipping firefighters with water; let's give our protectors what they need to protect.
Resources:
https://rainn.org/ - RAINN: Lookup local state laws and find other educational information here.
https://www.nsopw.gov/ - National Sex Offender Registry: Federal Search for Sex Offenders
https://offenderwatch.com/ – Tool to help monitor your children’s phone with tips for parents
https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ - Removing p*rn published without consent (this unfortunately happens to minor children use this site to help get it removed).
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/ - Human Trafficking Hotline
https://www.fbi.gov/ - Report Human Trafficking
https://report.cybertip.org/ - Report a cyber tip to Missing & Exploited Children online.
https://www.missingkids.org/ - Home website full of helpful educational resources
https://sharedhope.org/takeaction/ - Multiple resources
Romeo and Juliet Laws - Definition, Examples, Cases, Ages, by States
Integrated School Safety Software | Raptor Technologies®
