Demand That State Lawmakers Choose Our Children

By Troy Record
Sarah J. Burger
May 15, 2017

http://www.troyrecord.com/opinion/20170515/readers-view-demand-that-state-lawmakers-choose-our-children

Sarah Burger

For Digital First Media

Nearly one year ago I published an article titled “Call to Action: Protect our children, not predators.” Unfortunately, in 2016 New York again chose predators by failing to pass the Child Victims Act. With just over one month remaining in the current legislative session, the state legislature needs to choose our children.

Presently, there are bills pending in the Assembly and Senate to eliminate the time restrictions in criminal and civil actions to prosecute certain sex offenses committed against a child less than 18 years of age. Under current law a victim of child sex abuse has only until age 23 to bring a case against their perpetrator. Since victims of childhood sex abuse do not come to terms with their abuse until well into adulthood this protects the predator and leaves many victims without recourse.

The proposed bills eliminate the time limit or statute of limitations to commence childhood sex abuse cases for future cases and allows a one year retrospective window to lift the statute of limitations on past cases to allow adult survivors to seek civil damages. New York remains one of a few states nationwide to have not enacted similar legislation. The most powerful lobby against the Child Victims Act is the Catholic Church who historically had covered up child sex abuse by shuffling the clergy predator from parish to parish. In the fall of 2016, the Archdiocese of New York announced an “independent program” to investigate sex abuse claims and compensate sex abuse victims in exchange for their silence and release of all claims against the Church. The timing is not a coincidence because the Catholic Church has initiated similar programs in other States whenever statute of limitations reform makes significant progress.

Spa City native and former speed skater Bridie Farrell’s courageous commitment to changing the culture of sport to make it a safe place is unwavering. In 1997 and 1998 Bridie was repeatedly molested in Saratoga Springs, as well as other locations by her mentor No. 1 ranked speed skater and Olympian Andy Gabel. Since first publicly speaking about her abuse in 2013, Bridie has joined many other victims, advocates, and legislators in this civil rights reform movement.

The statistics are frightening. One in every four girls and one in every five boys are victims of sexual abuse. In 2016, another 8,000 cases of child sex abuse were reported in New York. The Child Victims Act has been percolating in the State Legislature for over 10 years. It is time that we demand that New York choose our children.

Please contact your state representative in support of the Child Victims Act: Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, (518) 455-5404; Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, (518) 455-5772; Sen. Kathleen Marchione, (518) 455-2381; Senator Jim Tedisco, (518) 455-2181; Senator Betty Little (518) 455-2811.

Sarah J. Burger is a local attorney and former candidate for Saratoga Springs commissioner of public safety.