Assemblyman Guy Gregg

GREGG: STATE'S USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO DEFEND RIGHTS OF PEDOPHILES IS OUTRAGEOUS

Assemblyman Guy Gregg said today he is outraged at the state's decision to file a lawsuit challenging the right of municipalities to establish "pedophile-free zones," calling the lawsuit an abhorrent abuse of taxpayer money and a travesty of justice."Instead of doing something to help protect our children, our most vulnerable citizens, the state of New Jersey, in its infinite wisdom, is using hard-earned taxpayer money to aid and abet the rights of convicted pedophiles. What are these public officials thinking?" said an exasperated Gregg. "How low can this state go? I'll tell you - we have pretty much hit rock bottom."

Gregg, R-Sussex, Morris, and Hunterdon, was responding to an article in today's Philadelphia Inquirer which reported that the state Office of the Public Defender filed a lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of a registered sex offender seeking to end local pedophile residence laws.

The 76-year-old convicted felon from Franklin Township pleaded guilty to molesting three young children, including two grandchildren, in his home in 2000. Although he is registered as a sex offender under Megan's Law, Franklin Township passed an ordinance banning pedophiles from living within 2,500 feet of schools, libraries, day care centers, churches, convenience stores and recreational areas. Because the man, identified only as "A.B." in the lawsuit, lives near a lake, which is considered a recreational facility, he is being forced to move.

According to the article, a spokesman for the public defender's office said the ordinance "went beyond what Megan's Law intended...Megan's Law is supposed to be used to protect children, not be used as punishment." But Franklin Township's mayor defended the city law saying it is necessary due to "the high rate of recidivism by sex offenders."

"Once again the perpetrator of a crime wants us to believe he's the victim and our state's public defender office is more than happy to accommodate him," said Gregg. "Not only are they using taxpayer money to pit one level of government against another, but frankly, I am sick and tired of this 'victim mentality' that pervades this nation and now our state."

He continued, "It's a well known fact that a very high majority of sex offenders repeat their crimes after leaving prison. Our obligation isn't to pander to the needs of pedophiles, but rather, it's our responsibility to do any and everything necessary to protect our children and our communities from those who prey on the innocent."

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For more information, contact:
Assemblyman Guy Gregg/973-584-5422
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339