Friends,
Just as this past weekend kicked off, three national news stories broke, each involving cases of well-known figures ensnarled in allegations of criminal sexual behavior:
- On Friday, R&B singer R. Kelly was arrested and charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The alleged sexual assaults dated back to 1998. Three of the victims were between the ages of 13 and 17 at the time of the alleged crimes.
- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was formally charged Monday with soliciting prostitution. The bust was part of a larger-scale Florida sex trafficking ring that has led to hundreds of arrest warrants.
- The activities of wealthy, politically connected Florida financier Jeffrey Epstein are back in the spotlight, the news this time revolving around his apparently light sentence after a 2008 plea deal secretly ended a federal sex-abuse investigation involving at least 40 teenage girls.
These cases share a common thread - each involve prominent public or well-known figures and names most would never expect to be splashed across national headlines for allegations of sexual crimes.
Friends, these stories serve as a reminder that you cannot detect a disguised predator. They come in all walks of life - whether a well known entertainer, member of law enforcement, coach, teacher, or leader of a faith community, there is no single profile of a predator.
What drives others to break the law and engage in sexual crimes? One very likely answer is the unprecedented worldwide consumption of pornography which fuels a desire to act out, and even drives demand for trafficked women and children. The harmful effects of pornography are extensive and often lead to a hyper-sexualized society, the objectification of women. deviant sexual behaviors, and can impact the brain's wiring. These name just a few of porn's harms.
We must recognize pornography as a public health crisis (already recognized by 11 states), and demand the enforcement of existing federal laws designed to protect children from sexual exploitation. That call is set forth in Enough Is Enough®'s Children's Internet Safety Presidential Pledge signed by Donald Trump.
If we are going to combat sex crimes and put an end to sex trafficking, we must tackle the issue of supply and demand driven by the multi-billion porn industry, and recognize pornography's most destructive effects.
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