O/T PROTECT Our Children Act (PIOG)

[stormyvawn]

I just finished watching a TIVO'd episode of Oprah which aired today, Monday, Sept. 15th.
The show brought me to tears. I was scared, hurt, and disgusted by what I saw & heard.
I can't even begin to find the words to explain how horrible the crimes against these children are....there are no words.
I stopped and sent en email to my senators urging them to pass the Bill listed below.
Please stop and take a few minutes of you busy day to do your part to protect children across our nation. (((If you get this from me more than once that is just because I am very passionate about it)))
 
Thanks....
  Stormy

FYI
The Internet can sometimes seem like the Wild West for child predators—a place that largely operates outside the law. While trading in pedophile pornography is illegal, lack of adequate funding means law enforcement officials are able to investigate just 2 percent of their leads. And, according to Interpol statistics, only one-half of 1 percent are ever prosecuted.

One particularly disturbing new trend involves predators engaging in live video chats that include on-demand child molestation and rape. This has caught the attention of the cybercrimes division of the Department of Homeland Security, which combats child exploitation.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20080911_tows_predators

Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act
Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

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 dropdown 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 petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

(Your name here) 

[stormyvawn]

FYI

The bil passed in the Senate. Thanks to all those who contributed to the effort to Protect Our Children.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1738