Ga. lawmakers consider hidden predator act

GEORGIA/FLORIDA
First Coast News

[with video]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On a mission to get Georgia’s Hidden Predator Act signed into law, a local man who says he was sexually abused as a child is speaking out. He and the bill’s sponsor, Republican State Representative Jason Spencer of Woodbine, say the bill is getting a lot of push back from some powerful special interest groups.

“Imagine summoning the courage to come forward. Most survivors come forward to protect other children, and they often come forward when they are at an age when they have their own children and want to identify the perpetrator, and being told there is nothing you can do,” said Justin Conway.

That is what Conway, 37, who is from Kingsland, Georgia says happened to him. It wasn’t until about 18 months ago that he says he broke his silence and went to authorities sharing a dark secret he says he had kept for decades.

“I’m a survivor of childhood sexual abuse,” said Conway. “Unfortunately the laws sets up now are set up to hide predators and the Hidden Predator Act is aimed at changing that.”

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