VIDEO: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development SB 1252
Meeting on April 6, 2023
Pay careful attention to Ann Salamone’s presentation against this bill around the 2:00 mark.
Watch here or on YouTube.
Florida Action Committee
With Unity Comes Change
Beautiful speech. Thank you, Ann, for lifting my spirits this evening.
Great speaker! She nailed it!!
But those punk ass legislators, scared of being primaried and losing their cushy jobs, still voted in favor of this horsesh*t! Cowards all!! 😡
They will be held accountable. We just can’t see it now. I fear for their souls.
No David you nailed it and always many others. If its not you than its someone else that is a coward and talks like you and others. Government Authorities have their accountability just like everybody else so one wonders who is right today.
Now I don’t know how jive talk goes and I wasn’t a B-gee fan. Theirs a time for fighting and a time to turn the other cheek and their is also a reason for all season, or who goes to war without a charge.
I hope everyone’s think tank can understand that or who puts a rubric’s cube together without understanding the game play basics. One wonders who has understanding in all this registry ruckus. Principal is everything.
Fact based arguments lose. When are we gonna learn?
“According to new research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, personal stories are more effective in promoting respect and understanding among people who disagree on moral and political issues than facts and statistics.
The researchers conducted 15 experiments and found that when people heard stories that were rooted in experiences of harm or vulnerability, they respected those who held opposing views more. The research also found that in actual face-to-face interactions, online debates and debates between talking heads on television, experience-based arguments garnered more respect between opponents than arguments based on facts.
Additionally, people respected opponents most when they’d been through something themselves, followed by when they shared the experience of a friend or family member, and they were least impressed when someone based an argument on a stranger’s anecdote or story they’d read about.
Personal experiences have fueled recent movements, such as Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement.”
Can you give us a link to the research? Thank you.
https://www.livescience.com/facts-dont-win-political-arguments.html
To your point there is a great book called “How Minds Change” by David McRainey. It talks about deep canvassing and the door to door efforts made to move the needle on Gay Marriage. When the canvassers shared their personal stories with those who were opposed to Gay Marriage they literally changed their minds, in most cases, that very day. They also solicited personal stories from those that were opposed.
Emotion, hysteria and fear will always override logic, reason and sanity on THIS topic!
People only change their minds when they’re FORCED to do so, not when they “change their hearts.”
And the idiot completely avoided ANYTHING about the scarlet letters.
I thought name calling is a no no on this site?? Ann brought forth good talking points and delivered her speech in a very professional manner. Thanks goes to Ann. We need more like her!
Did she think they were only adding a “red letter A” to the licenses? I thought I heard her say that in the speech.
She was speaking metaphorically. She is a brave and heroic woman who stood up for us when she didn’t have to!
No debate on the bill!! all are of one mind, one thought and one goal!! keeping their gold chair on the job, they wont risk speaking up, they wont jeopardize their careers. We must intensify our efforts on the sue front, on the Florida courts. Legislator wont listen and wont help unless they are force by the courts. I hope you all understand that. As I mention before, how much can cost the best US attorney to represent us at the supreme court? 100K, 200K or 300K?? We have more than 2500 members and supporters. We can all chip 100 dollars and pay the best attorney money can buy. Please work on that! thanks
Excellent idea. I know its difficult for some to scrape up the $100.00 but when you look at it as $2.50 a week for 40 weeks, it looks doable. I can think of several things I can cut down on or do without to make this happen. Maybe FAC can set up a fund for it so we can contribute the $100.00 when we have saved it up. In a year or a year and a half we could have that $250,000.00 to get a really good Constitutional Law Firm.
FAC has already set up such a fund, it continues to receive your donations, and our excellent lawyers are hard at work.
what we have is a fund for the sustainer, Im talking about hiring the best attorney money can buy. To fight for us in FL. I know there are challenges on the expofacto clause on the courts. Im talking about an overhaul and sue every law in FL that might look unconstitutional, and make them pay for our suffering under these laws. when they get hit with 2 o 3 of this .. believe me when I tell you they will hear us out. They will lose millions and they will stop!
The Ex Post Facto Sustainer takes on the State of Florida’s registration scheme in its entirety. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Attorneys Val Jonas and Tod Scher have shown in their filings that they are the best attorneys in the state to argue this case. And they haven’t asked us for a penny in legal fees, because they get paid by the defendant if they win. Most of our legal donations go to expert witness fees, which are crucial for challenging sex offender registries, as well as transcript fees, filing fees, etc.
That leaves individual county ordinances such as expanded exclusion zones and holiday decorations, and that may be what you’re referring to. Attorneys at JLI have done a great job taking on a couple of those, and there are plenty more.
One of the best strategies for county challenges might be to have our lawyers help us identify which county ordinance(s) are most vulnerable to challenge; defeat them, then use that defeat as precedent throughout the state. Call it the ACSOL model, which was pioneered successfully in California. Keep in mind that in most counties we’ll need plaintiffs willing to put their real names out there. Great attorneys will continue to take these cases when they think they can win!
(I am neither a lawyer nor on FAC’s legal committee, just posting what I’ve observed so far).
Jacob, please, can you tell me about the two attorneys that are helping us. What filings are you talking about.
Thanks,
Dennis
Filings such as the following:
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/ex-post-facto-lawsuit-filed/
An update may be found here:
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/updates-on-ex-post-facto-1-and-2/
Case 1 https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/38167792/doe_v_SWEARINGEN Going to trial later this year
Case 2
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/25861536/Does,_15_v_Swearingen This case is pending lawsuit case 1
The reason for no debate is because other than Section 17 the bill is a good bill. So to them its 95% good and they turn a blind eye to 5%. If you noticed at the beginning the person reviewing the bill doesnt even mention section 17. It is just slide in there with no justification, no thought. So those Senators listening here all of that and to them its good. There is no way they read all these bills.
Talking/educating to Florida republican lawmakers is like trying to clap with only one hand. They simply ignore anything that contradicts their personal agendas. If we can’t argue on evidence/data, we can’t vote these clowns out, then our options are limited. Makes me wish I was a lawyer……….
Rick, it’s not just Republicans. Lauren Book for instance is a Democrat. She too has done much harm to PFRs.
We shouldn’t blame one party or another on legislative decisions. There has been many Dems and Reps, that have made and signed bills and made laws happen.
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Trying to reason with them is like attempting to land a helicopter in the middle of a hurricane.
The only issue I have with the bill is the red lettering. It should be stated that we support its passage but without section 17. The approach in my opinion should be from a first amendment standpoint first and then followed up with Relevance, due process, and equal protection.
The reason I say this is a first amendment issue more than anything is because if they decided to color green those offenders who robbed a bank. It would still be a first amendment issue.
My take on the red lettering is it is not a sex offender issue but rather a first amendment issue. I support the bill minus section 17. If instead of registrants is was say bank robbery Offenders in green, it would still be a first amendment issue. Any labeling of any person or group is wrong
What a well spoken woman to speak the truth. It coulnd’t have been said any better. She took the time and they just brushed her off like she wasn’t even there! I hope that she planted some seeds for future insane votes. Seems crazy to vote on that many issues at one time anyhow.
Regarding today’s Senate meeting: Sen. DiCeglie was specifically asked if he was aware of the legal challenges against the “red lettering” on the driver’s licenses in Alabama and Louisiana and he answered NO. That is a lie. The bill’s analysis and fiscal impact statement specifically addresses the constitutional challenges in Alabama and Louisiana as a concern. See https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1252/Analyses/2023s01252.pre.fp.PDF at 19-20.
He was asked if he was “aware”? Are you certain that the bull analysis was read or even reviewed by him?
Another disappointing outcome today in the Senate. Good speakers, especially from FAC. Great debate in opposition by some of the representatives. Still, at the end of the day, there is too much emotion tied to the label in an effort to continue to exact more and more punishment on offenders. It will take legal action for sure.
Does anyone know why SB 1252 is pending a reference review under Rule 4.7(2) – (Committee Substitute)?
CONGRATS TO ALL!!!! The Senate bill has been amended to delete the “red letter” law. See, https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1252/Amendment/179410/PDF. Now we can focus on the House bill.
It appears so. This was my Alamo so glad to see this is being corrected.
Bill was amended!! And the red letters were deleted! Does this means we won ???
Hello all. For those that can meet with their representatives personally and connect with them in a positive way, please do so. I have been meeting for 2 years with legislators in Tallahassee and at District Delegation meetings in a kind manner by sharing our family’s story, listening to their stories, sharing data, and working towards change. Guess what – many, maybe most, legislators have a criminal-justice involved friend or family member. Most of my legislative communication effort has been on sentence reduction but my son is labeled “sex offender” and humanizing education to the general public and our legislators must be sustained. There was no expectation of changing the vote, but it was to educate and humanize. May we experience compassion in our lifetime for our registrants nationwide.
Hello Ms. Salamone,
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt and inspiring experience with us. Your dedication to connecting with legislators on a personal level and sharing your family’s story is truly commendable. It’s essential to remember that behind every statistic, there’s a real person with a unique story, and humanizing these experiences can often be more effective than simply presenting data.
Deep canvassing, as you mentioned, is a fantastic example of this approach. By engaging in meaningful conversations and taking the time to listen and empathize, we can create a space where understanding and compassion can grow. As you’ve found in your interactions, many legislators themselves have a connection to the criminal justice system, and by sharing your story, you help to break down barriers and foster a sense of commonality.
Your perseverance in working towards change, even without the expectation of immediately altering the vote, is an excellent reminder that progress is a long-term endeavor. Education and humanization are vital components of this process, and by continuing to engage in open and honest dialogue, we can help to create a more compassionate and just society for all, including those labeled as “sex offenders.”
Thank you for being a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change in your community. Your efforts serve as an inspiration for others to follow suit and continue the fight for a more compassionate approach to criminal justice reform. Let’s keep working together to ensure that everyone, including registrants nationwide, receives the understanding and support they deserve.
Dear Ann Solomone,
I recently heard your testimony before the Florida Senate Transportation Committee. I admire you for standing before this committee and presenting them with very clear facts. You were strong and not intimidated by the banc before you. And even though you knew they would not listen to you… They probably didn’t even hear you… Even though you knew this ahead of time, you marched on.
The other thing that I highly admire you for is that you stood for your son. You already know how many families have divorced themselves from registrants. Families abandon their “loved ones” just for being accused of a crime. Now the Registry is destroying even more families.
Ann, please keep on marching for families.
Pastor Scott
Thanks Ann, you said it all and said well. I wish we had more woman like you! Thanks from the bottom of our hearts!!