Demanding a tougher punishment for child abusers

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

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Ronda Storms wants tougher punishments for child abusers.
A discussion of what to do with child abusers is part of today's agenda at the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners meeting.

County Commissioner Ronda Storms said she would like to see child abusers sent to prison and sterilized as well.

This past winter she asked the county attorney's office to analyze the legal rights the state has to sterilize both male and female child abusers.

"You should be prevented from having additional children that you can abuse again," Storms said.

The conclusion of the 16-page report was that it would be appropriate for state legislators to consider making new laws.

"I want the legislative delegation to take it seriously," Storms said.

At the meeting, Storms said she would ask her fellow commissioners to support her request for such action to be a top priority for legislators in the fall.

"Particularly in these times we have a tsunami wave of depravity over our children," Storms said.

According to the county attorney's report, the sterilization of convicted child abusers isn't totally unconstitutional. However, it would be appropriate to be passed as a state statute as opposed to a local ordinance.