Free Viewing of “Untouchable” – Everyone needs to see this film
In 2016, producers David Feige and Rebecca Richman Cohen released the documentary “Untouchable” and it continues to be one of the most powerful films that chronicles the origin of why we have such harsh laws today for sexual offenses.
The documentary, which is described in the review below, aims to “recognize the many shades of sex crimes and seeks a better system for dealing with offenders at all levels” and highlights that no one who carries the title of ‘sex offender’ on their record is ever given a fair opportunity to move forward in life. The reviewer ends by saying that everyone needs to see this film.
To ensure this happens, FAC is hosting a FREE viewing period until midnight Thursday April 7, 2022. In addition to the FAC members, thousands of viewing invitations have been sent to Florida Legislators, county commissioners, city officials, law enforcement, churches, schools, universities, and media contacts statewide. From now until midnight April 7th, viewers have unlimited access to the film and may share the link as desired.
Enter link: http://www.untouchablefilm.com/film
Enter password: screener0322
For your convenience, there is a digital transcript of the film that you may download for reference, and a Playbill that you may share. Click here for the Transcript of Untouchable and click here for the Playbill.
Following the free viewing period, there will be a PUBLIC conference call on Thursday April 7, 2022 from 1:00-2:00 pm ET with special guests Professor Emily Horowitz, Attorney Val Jonas and the film’s producer, David Feige. To participate, call 319-527-3487. Due to the limited time, callers are encouraged to email questions, comments or desired discussion topics in advance, to membership@floridaactioncommittee.org.
Later that evening, April 7th at 8:00 pm ET on the regularly scheduled Monthly FAC Membership Call, our guest will be Shawna Baldwin, featured in the film, who will address her status as a Registered Citizen, from teen to motherhood, and the projects that she serves today. Call 319-527-3487.
The Florida Action Committee has license to hold free in-person screenings across our state. If you are a member of a religious, academic or civic group and can arrange a facility to conduct a screening, please contact membership@floridaactioncommittee.org to help coordinate an a public screening of this important film. Our goal is to ensure every PTA, political, academic, social organization and citizen of our state who has a stake in the safety and well-being of ALL Floridians, has an opportunity to see the film and consider the impact on ALL citizens and their families. With Unity Comes Change.
‘Untouchable’ is a challenging, but necessary documentary
Film Review – Originally posted Apr 25, 2017-written by James Shotwell
There are few things in this world people have less compassion for than those whose names appear on the ‘National Sex Offender Public Registry’ (NSOPR). It seems many blindly believe this list reveals the monsters who live among us, which serves the better good, but very few actually understand how the list works and what it does to those who appear on it.
‘Untouchable’, a documentary from David Feige, takes a closer look at the registry, its purpose, and the many implications its continued existence has for those on it, as well as their families.
‘Untouchable’ is not a movie trying to downplay the seriousness of sex crimes. If anything, the film aims to recognize the many shades of sex crimes and seeks a better system for dealing with offenders at all levels. As it stands now, the National Sex Offender Public Registry includes everything from convicted pedophiles and rapists, to people who were caught urinating in public after having a few too many drinks. There are no markers or symbols to separate the various crimes committed, so everyone is lumped together and branded ‘sex offenders’ regardless of if such description actually fits the crime. Feige and the numerous talking heads he’s gathered, which cover offenders and lawmakers, argue that because of this mass generalization, treatment and rehabilitation is practically non-existent despite the fact the recidivism rate for sex crimes is incredibly low.
At the center of this story is Florida lobbyist Ron Book and his daughter, Florida Senator Lauren Book, who was molested and tortured by an immigrant housekeeper. It was Book’s response to learning of these horrifying events that set the laws that now dictate the treatment of sex offenders in place, and it’s not hard to understand why. Book, like any parent, wishes to protect their children. When confronted with the reality he had failed to do so, Book reacted as any parent would by taking drastic action to ensure such events never transpired again. His actions did not stop sex crimes outright, but he did forever alter the way the public treats and views those convicted of a sexual crime.
‘Untouchable’ highlights the stories of several convicted sex offenders, all from ages and backgrounds. Each crime is different, with some being far darker than others, but the events that happened in the wake of their convictions are largely the same. The lifelong pedophile is treated the same as someone who never touched another person or viewed illegal materials. As a result, no one who carries the title of ‘sex offender’ on their record is ever able to move forward in life. Those on the NSOPR are virtually unable to find meaningful employment, nor are the able to live where they desire. In fact, many lose homes that may have been in their family for generations because of laws restricting where sex offenders can live. As a result, many on the list are homeless and unemployed, living in groups huddled under bridges or in empty parking lots. Their lives are essentially destroyed forever, yet they are forced to keep on living.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from ’Untouchable’ is that no other type of criminal is treated with same prolonged disdain as sex offenders. Even convicted murderers, for the most part, have an opportunity at parole and a life that extends beyond the shadow of their past. Our nation has found a way to forgive countless crimes and rehabilitate those who perpetrated them, but if you’re convicted of a sex crime the same is not true. Those on NSOPR are written off for life and, as it stands right now, there is no way around that.
‘Untouchable’ stops short of detailing the possible paths to improving our current system. A few ideas are mentioned, some better than others, but ultimately ‘Untouchable’ is a movie that aims to make us more aware of how our current system dehumanizes people. Feige does such a good job outlining the issue and its many intricacies, but he doesn’t come across as a man hoping to carry the torch for change. Instead, he gives us the information we need to know, including many hard truths about how we treat other human beings, and leaves us to consider whether or not we are okay with our own behavior. ’Untouchable’ isn’t afraid to make us uncomfortable, and because of that I have a feeling it will be a movie we talk about for many years to come.
My only hope is that our response does not end at conversation alone. Change is needed, and it is going to require people to be compassionate in a way that initially may go against our instincts, but at the end of the day even the worst people are just people and we cannot lose sight of that.
Everyone needs to see this film.
Yes, because involving a story with such an uncaring person as Ron Book, clearly shows just how two faced people are. Here we have a political figure and father, who in one perspective is a respectable person, but in the reality of his work towards the homeless people in South Florida, shows his darker side, and this doesn’t even touch on his wager of cruelty against us. His daughter following in his footsteps, shows the leaf doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’m sure the documentary is good, but it’s clear that human nature is a two sided coin, no matter how we are perceived.
Tereto daughter following in this footsteps. That sounds about right. So tell me who gave Adam the fruit. Guess the two faces of Eve does say something when truth comes to upset the apple cart. Always remember a woman is always right even in an argument as she will get the last hurrah.
I watched the entire movie. I wish I hadn’t. More than 90% of it was just disturbing and depressing. After seeing what we are up against (Millions of dollars thrown at the Book cartel) I am going to take a break from posting for a while. It was eye opening, and not in a good way.
I wish everyone the best
CherokeeJ….
Well, I have not seen it and do not know when I will..
I am just glad your posts get posted…Many of My Posts Go into The ‘Circular File’, Because, Once, Again, People DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH…Based on Empirical Data and Numerical Codified Statutory Law-The Rest is JUST NOISE and DRAMA!
FAC NEEDS TO:
Erase the Noise, Drama, Feelings-EMOTIONS!.. Etc…Focus on the Bullseye-The Truth, The Facts, Empirical Data, and of most importance, Numerical Codified Statutory Law
..At The End of The Day, We all have Challenges and go Through Emotional Roller Coasters-That is Called LIFE!
Let Us Keep Or Eyes on The Targets!
Removing EMOTION From The Decision Making Process, is the Best MEDICINE!
Truth
FAC and it’s leadership need to step up by taking risks, break through the noise, put the organization out there which should of been done during this film, be willing to face constructive criticism, and do the right thing even if it may be offensive to members. Remember silence or doing nothing because of the risks/ feelings says plenty also. Never been so disappointed in organization as I am in FAC.
Interesting constructive criticism, Brandon. Perhaps if you had been at the helm things would have been different instead of FAC “doing nothing” during the 7 years since the film was made.
FAC # 3
Did FAC do an interview for the film which would of given the organization name recognition, gotten the mission/ message about the organization and Florida’s registry/ restrictions out in public, gotten registrants and their family members involved becoming members, and grown in numbers. Don’t pop off at me because that isn’t what I’ve seen and if I was bad am wrong I asked for a time stamp of an FAC interview and I have received no response. You have no idea how frustrating this is for me and we both need to back off before we make things worse. At least you can agree with me on that making things worse.
Using FAC’s own public website to post that FAC doesn’t ‘put itself out there’ is ironic. Do we think media orgs will just offer FAC free airtime?
So we’re blaming FAC for not forcing the filmmaker to include them?
Even after Feige already interviewed members of FAC’s national affiliate and cut them out as well?
FAC is a bigger and better-known organization than when this film was made. I’m frustrated that the registries haven’t been taken down yet, but I’m not going to blame FAC volunteers for that.
It’s demoralizing to put forth vague platitudes insinuating that FAC volunteers have somehow taken things in the wrong direction.
FAC 3
I’ll take my concerns, resources, and money since you want to pop off at me for my concerns. In last 15 years I have helped raise over 300k for organizations I believed in even though we might of not agreed on everything. I didn’t send my posts to be offensive, but I had serious issues that weren’t addressed and found my concerns troublesome. If popping off at me gives you joy so be it. Maybe you should look at others views before popping off at someone with different insights.
Brandon, Please keep in mind the site admins know what contributions each member (or non member) have made. Not that there is any requirement to donate to the cause in order to participate, but you’ve not donated or helped us raise a penny, so why the comments? I’m not saying that to call you out and there is absolutely no obligation to donate anything, I just don’t want our members to think we’re losing some huge benefactor. That said, any participant losing confidence in our organization is a huge loss.
FAC, Brandon, Myself and everyone
Keep in mind, there are people who view these comments that never comment. Some are the bad guys/gals who come on to stir shit up and divide us. Others may be ex offenders who are thinking of joining as a member or just as a contributor.
We need to stand as one even if we do not agree with everything, everyone says. A bridge is only as strong as its weakest rail, beam, bolt, board or cables. Once that fails, the bridge collapses and people get hurt.
I am not judging anyone here but I love all of you as brothers and sisters. We are all hurting really badly. We all, including myself, say something stupid in here or maybe vent our frustrations.
I may have met some of you in person during registration and we would never know who each other are. What I do know is, there are so many of us that were screwed over by the retro active laws, eventually something major is going to happen. We are being killed, attacked, mis-treated, violated, abused, held down, and compared to leapers.
People sit next to us at church, on a bus, an airplane, waiting in the doctor’s office, the grocery store. We are just another person in the crowd, but sometimes I feel like we are all wearing a T-Shirt with a bullseye on the back.
I close with this scripture from the good book
1 Corinthians 12:25
So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
I would not want FAC to make the same mistake as NARSOL, putting their registrant board member(s) out there only to see their message obscured by their background and registry status.
Well I think his point was that FAC doesn’t stand up loud or strong enough at times. And considering that even now in comments, emails and newsletters, we never know who is even speaking. “Who” is the Florida Action Committee? Gail is very open as our president but she’s the only one. You must admit that it’s an unusual thing to get long weekly emails written in the first person, but never signed. To the outside we tend to be looked at a bunch of people (or maybe just one person – who knows?) who run a website, advocate and work with registrants who are anonymous. Who is on the board? Who does what? One time I responded to an email and I was pretty frank and to the point, however I unkowingly responded to someone that I actually knew and had met. She was so offended, she has yet to speak to me again. But i didn’t know it was her that was writing, because there is never a name signed and this is coming form someone who considers themselves an “insider” so I can only imagine how others might feel. I think the organization needs to take another look at this and reconsider this need to constantly be anonymous and maybe how that might be hindering the work. You all don’t even give a name in order to comment, yet we do. Thank you for hearing my honest critique.
Rich, you don’t need to give a name – you can write Anonymous. Nobody needs more targets on their backs then already exists.
Rich
ALL of us and our families are already have targets on our backs. I also choose to be anonymous as there are people who go after our families, our jobs (If you have one) etc.
I am not a coward but I have seen people like Derek who openly challenges law enforcement and law makers and the things they have done to him. As former law enforcement myself, if they wanted to make something up about us, who do you think they are going to believe? The word of an ex con /sex offender or a so called “Respected law enforcement official”?
When I was in prison, I was accused of something because I wouldn’t snitch on someone. I was locked up in confinement and told I would be there for “Life” until I talked. After 3 weeks the chaplin happened to come by and I begged him to call my family. He was very afraid and said he was call them and say he was concerned about me. Two days later after my parents were contacted, a state investigator got me transferred to another facility. And NOT in lock up.
My point is, the high ups can make people disappear. I was lucky, I had family with connections. Some guys in there I felt so bad for. They never got any visits, any mail nothing. I do not know what they did but I just wanted someone to care about them. * Sorry I have always been a softy. I would sometimes cry at crime scenes. I have a mean punch if someone comes at me but I also have a huge heart.
CherokeeJack
I knew what to expect out of the documentary because I saw it before, but I’m more disappointed about the everyone needs to see it and the promoting it on this forum. How many registrants like you were disturbed, depressed, and offended by what they saw? How many registrants will distance themselves from FAC because of Untouchables? We get posts on people’s comments being offensive and I’m frustrated that registrants feelings weren’t considered before this post become public Friday night.
Hang in there Brother and keep your head/chin up
While I didn’t see the movie only the Trailer I have to agree with Cherokee but that’s part of reality. So what was part of reality in the bible. Was it killing male children, sacrificing them, or even covering up someone naked? While many have ups and downs about this movie it can happen to anyone.
To give you a true example. I met a gal in a strange way. She was in a nursing home she was in her 20 or I would say. The lady I was suppose to visit was there and she introduced me to her and told me she had a ate up liver and her father put her in this nursing home because when she got drunk she would abuse and beat up on her child. Now that’s bad enough. Its been said if you hold on to the past you will tend to repeat it. Give it up and come to reason. Why do you think the bible is for all to understand. And they didn’t have cell phones’ or smart phones but they did have a spirit to know the difference and yes many had the truth, the hope, the faith,and the love.
If you have the streaming service Peacock you can watch the documentary for free right now. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the documentary and I wished more time was given to those with opposing views. To be fair I’m watching it again to see my views have changed on the documentary. I’ll post my current thoughts, so stay tuned.
I haven’t change my views at all. I’m still disappointed Ron Book was never raked over the coals. I’m still upset I was told my words were “too harsh” for bringing up Ron Book’s criminal record yet Book’s wet dreams of waterboarding us was not? No, Book got softballed. I can’t help but thinkn that Feige was too scared of the Books to make an effective documentary.
There is only one good thing to come from this, and that is whatever I can finally find an attornry to help me sue them for the abuse they put me through, the words from both Books in this film will be used against them.
Ron Book unabashedly admitted that none of the laws he got passed would have saved his daughter. I could understand his fervor if the laws would have prevented Lauren’s abuse, or if those laws had some factual basis behind them. I suspect that he has been an angry, controlling man all his life, and has just found a target that will make him appear as a hero.
[RON BOOK]: “I believe there is an absolute certainty that pedophiles will
reoffend. Sentence them to having their fingernails pulled out of their hands, pulling their hair out one hair at a time. Sentence them to waterboarding everyday. Throw the keys away.”
I could have used this clip from the Books back when they had that bogus RO against me.
Ron Book was on his phone while driving; which I have to admit made me laugh. Only thing missing was his booze. As Lauren said, “ It’s not a matter of if they offend, but when” regarding registrants. Well Lauren, “ How many times does your dad have to re-offend for you to take away his keys? Oh yeah, I forgot you are more concerned about punishing those who had nothing to do with your abuse and I for one am I tired of it.
Yes .. I realized that he was using the phone to txt or directions while driving.. is not that illegal in Florida? And yes Lauren let’s be honest here .. your own dad said that none of the harsh punishment for SO could have help avoid what you went through.. I would imagine he will be finding ways to make sure no other nanny could abuse a kid right ??? Why aren’t you or your dad working on that one ?? O yeah I know why .. became that wont get as many followers and money in so you can continue with your luxury live on the taxpayers back !! TAke that one home !!
Too bad that clip wasn’t submitted to the court during his DUI case. It could have been used in his civil suit. I wonder how big the settlement was.
Too bad I’ll likely never get a settlement from them.
I wanted to turn it off several times but I persisted and I’m glad I did if only to see some of the WAR families and hear Shawna’s story. I live in FL and a family member is a citizen on the registry. They live in fear everyday they will be violated for some technicality. It has torn our family apart as the victim is also a member of our family. After learning about what the registry really is, I argued that the punishment didn’t fit the crime. Other family members disagree and I haven’t talked to one of my siblings in almost a year.
It sounded to me like even Lauren Book was beginning to realize throwing people away doesn’t make children safer.
This was heavy.
Everyone take care of yourselves.
Peace,
Carrie
I have a question here .. is legal for a public servant to run a personal vendetta on its citizens? I’m seeing this film and is like is he really dating this ? ( Ron Book) he speaks with so much hatred. Then he confirm that all the laws he is proposing would not have helped his daughter.. so what are u doing ? Are you by any chance passing laws just as a vendetta and not because you are worry for Florida kids? I think a good lawyer need to look at this from the legal perspective, because I’m pretty sure no public officer can use his power and seat to run a personal vendetta that is obvious he has. He don’t care about the data at all, he just hate sex offenders and to me that’s a pretty good sign that he does not care for Florida family or kids even.
I feel terrible inside because I absolutely can not watch this film. I get nauseated just looking at Lauren Book. Maybe it’s my own shortcomings, but I have no compassion for her or her family.
ExMedic
Im sorry that seeing/ listening to Lauren makes you nauseous and nobody should make you that uncomfortable, but I understand how you feel. All of us have shortcomings and it’s what you learn that’s the most important. Keep being you and never stop learning/ growing. Growth is what makes you stronger.
I really want to look the Books in the face and say “I’m not the monster here. YOU ARE.”
How much money does this Thing spend on make-up per annum?
After all, it is THE TAXPAYERS dollar that are paying for this and of course all the damn lobbyists contributors!
Tammy Faye, at least Pasted that shit on her face all the time
Who looks worse?
I watched Untouchable on Peacock with commercials, so not sure I watched it all; however the things I saw I wasn’t impressed. Way to many missed opportunities and I’m disappointed that I didn’t see an interview with FAC. Was there one and what’s the time stamp? Sorry I don’t mean to sound harsh, just want to know if I missed it.
Unfortunately, we can only do the interviews, it was not anyone’s decision but the film maker’s when creating the film.
My face and voice was used in the film but not my interview, and neither was Tom Madison’s or any of the men who protested the Books that day in 2015. We’re lucky that ven WAR got a few seconds on screen. Then Feige went to the NARSOL conference and interviewed people and none of those interviews were used. Not sure if any FAC member was interviewed but that is also a moot point.
I’m really disappointed our movement was relegated to a brief blurb with little context as to why we were protesting.
I can’t help but feel that the Books were catered to way too much in the film. I’ve seen harsher interviews from local news reporters than I saw in the documentary.
I was also disappointed with the guy who said “if you knew what went through my head you’d want to lock me up forever.” That certainly made Book more sympathetic to the ignorant crowd.
I would have liked a film that at least turned up the heat beyond lukewarm.
Derek
That is exactly why I was so hurt, upset and depressed. The one guy kept calling himself a pedophile. Well if he is that and he owns it, I guess for him that is good. But the viewing audience is calling every single person arrested for any sex offense a pedophile.
Then the predator lady pissed me off, then she seemed to soften up a bit, then in the end, went right back to her predator patrols. And she and her posse of low lifes are going around hiding in the bushes waiting for someone on probation to come home a few minutes late, getting their probation revoked. This is what is known as vigilantes.
I do not even look at my own page anymore because every time I do I have to pay a lawyer to get them to correct my information. First off I cannot afford to keep doing that and secondly, every time the lawyer would get it corrected, FDLE would change it to some other false charges. These are lose-lose situations.
Too many powerful people with money are behind all this. And some of them may have dirt on a few judges that keeps them all in cahoots.
The movie played out like if someone twisted the Ukraine war in favor of Russia and made the Ukrainians the bad guys. I am not downplaying anyone’s charges, including my own. But I think the 31 years since my charges, with no arrests or violations speaks for itself.
But the other side in the movie said “It is not if, but when we will re-offend”. Seriously? And thanks for the fake 80 something percent re-offense rate. All the data shows proof in our favor but it is like it just doesn’t exist, even though it was repeated by different studies and were mostly aligned within a small margin.
Brandon -FAC was infuriated that WAR and independent activists. Their directors put up on the landing page of their website “We are not affiliated with WAR and we don’t support their coming here. WAR, Derek, and a couple of others took on the task of sending a snail mail letter to each registrant in Tallahassee to invite them to join us. The president of FAC called 5 RSOL board members complaining about our coming there. Also, she contacted several state leaders of RSOL to voice her opinion. Lastly, a female board member sent me hateul emails and bragged about how she had discontinued her membership. It was to the point that I was ready to get an attorney to send her a Cease and Desist letter. Then FAC had the audacity to show Untouchable at the ATSA Conference, rent a big screen to show it to the guys featured. Had David Feige there too. Then NARSOL presented him an award. Remarkable. None of the RSOL footage was used because RSOL insisted on viewing the film before it was released which is NEVER allowed to happen. And now FAC is concerned that WAR will try to steal their membership so they are collecting money for those members who are attending the Teamwork Makes the Dreamwork events in DC in 2023 and will send them to WAR without the individual contact information. Now let’s see if the truth gets posted here…..
Vicki – why pick fights? FAC is not collecting any money for members who are attending the DC event. That’s the truth. FAC was making significant legislative efforts in Tallahassee while you were planning the protest – those efforts were undermined. While Gail was setting up meetings, legislators believed that FAC was behind the protest and was refusing the meetings.
My wife assumed from the preview that Ron Book is a crusader for child safety and possibly a hero. That’s how he comes across to viewers who are coming from a different perspective.
I made this same observation years and was degraded by some because of it.
Derek you were spot on.
After again seeing the Books up close I commend you for standing up to them. People with spotless records fear this man. He’s a loose cannon.
You surely showed what poking the bear was like. They also tasted what loosing a fight with you was like.
I found nothing in this film that most of us don’t already know.
The US Supreme Court ruled registries were okay because recidivism was 80%. It wasn’t even based on anything. Not a damn thing.
People like Ron Book have no desire to hear the truth or learn from the facts and believe what they believe because they believe it. Unfortunately, he is a lobbyist with to much power and sway over Florida’s public servants and they believe what he says is fact, not feeling. This is obvious with his Sept 2021 plea deal that none of the common people would ever get to get out of that DUI.
One gets the feeling that since this is such an emotional topic, some of his preaching on the topic is because it helps him on every other topic he is lobbying form. The man prostitutes himself every day.
Numerous studies have shown the registry and residency restrictions have done nothing to solve the issues nor will they ever. But hey, lets not let that get in the way of making them even more draconian.
90-95% of all sex offenses is by people they know. Not some stranger. And most are first time sex offenders.
That we are pissing away a lot of money NOT to solve the problem and reduce the number of crimes being committed.
Sigh. As many have said it was depressing. It’s seems hopeless really. People like the Books have the power, we have such little chance of ever having the laws change, not in our lifetime. Makes me want to live in another country…if I could.
You can live in other countries as a registrant. Google them, there are many countries that do not recognize the US’s SOregistry. Yes the US will make it hard for you but if you are really thinking about this Google will become your best friend. I have been researching Germany and it’s laws regarding US registrants. Many countries recognize the US registry as a tool to make many US citizens into sec.class citizen that make them one small (a minor step) above an illegal immigrant.
I’m going to refrain from commenting on the film, if only to say the following. Laying credence to the people that exploit us only gives weight to their cause. Easiest way to shut those people up, is to take away what they are fighting for. I’m not a registrant, and most certainly not an offender. I am a husband, a father, a brother, a mentor, and a businessman. I am on an even keel with those who would oppose me, and if not in a better place than them. First way to fix a problem, is to acknowledge there is one there. But, when you give relevance to people who oppose you, you give them what they need to fight you. Live outside of the realm of their impact. Take away their cause. They are fighting for a misguided plight. We should not live the plight they set. Live outside of their rules and their parameters. Embrace who you are as a true human being, and walk that life. True freedom comes from knowing who you are, and not what another makes you out to be.
I’m glad the movie was made. It’s at least a step. But the glorification of the Books turned my stomach and made me angry.
The riding in the car, the multiple close up interviews, visiting their house, etc. overpowered what the I think the movie the was really trying to say. In fact, it was during this viewing that I realized the “Untouchables” are referring to the Books, not to us.
This is THEIR story. The last half, finally, is “our part” but, sadly, failed to overcome the glitz and glamour afforded the Books. Interviewing registrants who admitted over and over again, “I am a pedophile” was unfortunate when what the movie seemed to try to be saying is what about the thousands and thousands of people who are caught up in this thing who are NOT pedophiles or a danger to society – the majority of the people on the registry. The movie made me cry, not out of hope, but out of pain. I hope the folks joining us on the phone calls in a few days are ready for some honest criticism rather than the praise they might be expecting.
Can we please stop with the back and forth about the documentary?? Let’s concentrate on the issues that matters .. we are doing exactly what they want us to do .. divide and conquer!! We all have our opinions, please let’s be civilized and work toward the common goal here. To bring change to Florida legislative hand. Thanks
IMPORTANT NOTE: FAC was not involved in the film and had no choice in the direction David Feige took. We didn’t choose the individuals he featured, and we didn’t influence who got more screen time. From our perspective it seems as though it was not balanced but tipped towards the registry proponents. From their perspective, they are probably angry that “our side” got any screen time. But in the imbalance, one can clearly see the weight of money, power and influence we are up against. The valuable screen time “our side” received, showed the opinions of experts in this field, such as Val Jonas, Jill Levenson, Eric Janus and others. Those opinions carry much more weight than ours.
It is also important to note that in addition to the Film, Mr. Feige put together an important op-doc from the footage, exposing the ‘Frightening and High’ myth. It can be seen here: https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000005415081/a-frightening-myth-about-sex-offenders.html For those who thought ‘Untouchable’ didn’t go far enough, this op-doc takes it a bit farther.
David Feige will be a guest on a public conference call April 7th at 1:00-2:00pm ET, along with other special guests Emily Horowitz and Val Jonas. To listen, call 319-527-3487. If you have questions or topic points you wish to be addressed on the call, please emailed those to membership@floridaactioncommittee.com.
Reminder: FAC Monthly Membership Call will be April 7th at 8pm ET with special guest Shawna Baldwin who will discuss her journey since the filming of Untouchable, and the current advocacy projects she serves. To participate, call 319-527-3487.
Ron Book’s love for money/power (“I’m a Capitalist Pig”, he says) may have regrettably caused him to miss and neglect all the “signs” of his daughters 6 year abuse.
Instead of Ron correctly applying justice (which should be at the “Perp” who committed the offense in his family’s case), he unjustly wants vengeance on all who are in a sex offense category; treating all of them as if they were the ones who committed the Nanny’s offense against his daughter.
Ron Book is damaged goods.
He needs treatment himself.
He should be barred from Lobbying on Sex Offender Laws.
Treat him like a juror who would be removed and exucsed, if the case against the defendant is similar to an incident they experienced.
On a more positive note, Judge Jackson was confirmed as the next Supreme court justice. Let us hope she does not get bulldozed. I have a feeling she can handle herself just fine.
Thanks FAC for the links.
The one tiny part which was subtly interesting to me was watching Lauren Books “evolution” from in line with daddy early on {Hate all registrants}; to “create a more efficient system -we can’t be driven by fear”
Not a big step as was shown by Patti Wetterling, but I saw some change.
I recognize her direction is $$$, political power and don’t piss of dad. I also realize Dad’s initial motivation was guilt and hate. Now it’s seemingly spattered with $$$ greed, power and more hate. To bad Lauren didn’t admit “we can’t be driven by guilt and hate”.
Lauren is worse than Ron. Ron doesn’t try to hide behind a facade while Lauren pretends she disagrees with daddy while doing whatever she wants. She is, in that sense, a consummate politician.
I think under the current political climate we have seen being clever is better than being smart. You can be clever while still being an idiot.
But I have proven she has a mean streak as bad as daddy Ron. Don’t buy into her sweet lady routine.