Protect Our Children

The other day I saw a very disturbing Oprah. Did any of you see it? It was about the HUGE problem we have with children being victims of sexual abuse...and the internet. The problem is, law enforcement can track the perpetrators down, but they don't have the money to hire the manpower to get them. There was a man on the show who created software that is used to track down online child pornography predators. All day, every day, he uses the this software to find the footage and these children to rescue. However, the hardest thing for him, he said, is to know that there are hundreds of kids that he knows are being sexually abused, because he has found them online -- and knows where the abusers physically are, and each day he can only save one of those children. This was only one part of the show. It really was so disturbing what happens and what is shown online for anyone to view. These poor children and babies. I just cried.

But there is something we can do. You can go to Oprah.com or follow the following instructions in order to help pass the Protect Our Children Act -- Bill 1738. We have a limited time. Congress will reconvene on September 26, I believe. That is when this bill will be discussed and voted on. Things are only getting worse and more disgusting. This is about the safety of our children and future children. To me, that is worth every penny.

As you know, I've asked many of you to write letters and make phone calls before when it was regarding Samantha and other children who would benefit from certain things that were under control of the Utah State Senate. I'm now asking you again, if you feel like this would be worth our time and money, to please make a phone call or write a letter to your state senator. This will affect your children. I just called and left a message for both of my senators. It took less than 30 seconds to make both phone calls. (Be forewarned. You aren't leaving a message on a machine, you actually talk to someone. That catches me off guard every time I call a senator.)

The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

• Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
• Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
• Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.

Act Now!
Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.
Go to www.senate.gov to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either drop down menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!

Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."

Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.

Dear Senator:

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, please let's do something about it and take action during this session.

(Your name here)

* All this information was taken off oprah.com, some of it word for word.