This will be a great thing if all schools implement it. I say it's best to get out there and try to let people know about trying to prevent it. Maybe things will turn around a bit.

My husband was sexually abused as a child, and he didn't say a word. He went on through life carrying this burden and used drugs, almost died of an overdose, then he moved on to porn and child porn-I believe that if he had the freedom to reach out to his family, friends and tell them what happened, I think he would have gotten the help he needed and wouldn't have continued the vicscous cycle of different addictions that has plagued him and now landed him in prison. I'm not trying to be cold-I hope this law truly makes a difference in a child's life and removes some of the stigma associated with sexual abuse.

I agree Tsmom. I'm a huge advocate for education and prevention programs. With funding schools won't have an issue with implementing it, they just wouldn't do it without funding.

@ MyMansWoman, I agree. When we were growing up, this topic wasn't talked about. I've had siblings abused and didn't disclose until years later. i believe also if hubby had received help, he wouldn't have hurt our daughter. Its definitely a cycle, and I am working to beak it.

I think this is great. My husband was also abused and it is correct it was a different era and it was not talked about. And it especially did not happen to little boys. I also think if he had the help he needed this would never have happened. I have to wonder how many walking wounded are out there that never got any help. And the effects it had on their lives. I mean we know it has a life long effect on the lives of those that do get help. But those that never got help? His father acted like it never happened to him and never once talked to him about it.

I agree as abuse happened to my LO. It set him up for a lifetime of substance abuse. The registry only gives more. He's gone from a 2nd class citizen to a 3rd (or less).

Thought, How are you working to break it? In addition to Erin's law, it should be enhanced to where those who were abused as children and are now abusing should be evaluated for TREATMENT before they are adjudicated guilty and sent off to prison. If we were TRULY a Christian nation, then it would behoove all of us to treat all involved.

Furthermore, we are such a puritan society, which is why we don't talk about healthy human sexuality. When my husband and I were growing up, our parents didn't discuss with us about things like this. It was CONSTANTLY preached to me that "nice girls wait until they are married." That is absolutely unrealistic in this day an age, but yet, we still don't discuss healthy sexuality with our kids. If all that stuff were demystified, I think we wouldn't have such stringent s.o laws on the books &, we would have lower pregnancy, std, hiv, and sexual abuse rates among our young people.

I hope all this makes sense.

I too hope a National Erin's Law may help however the people who "educate are often as prejudiced as any one else and any "national' law could certainly be twisted more to scare children than to educate. At least it might be a start. It would be nice to think that if my father had been helped he might not hve started on the path to abusing me...
I think the reason most of us are weary and fail to speak up on our own behalf is because of hate speech against women and against all survivors male and female: We fear reprisals caused by Hate speech which incites vigilantism (and makes us all have to find each other on internet sites like Daily Strength) and silences us all.

For example here's a diatribe against women/ mothers/ Gf's who chose to stay chose to break silence and begin a more balanced conversation about the registry and about sexual abuse in general:

This is taken from a blog on the web" I'm sure you have read or been forced to listen to similar stuff...

" I am not so amazed by the women ... after all these are the same women who were scrambling for bail money 30 minutes after their partners were found to be sexually feeding off their children, so they are conditioned to Praise a freak that turned their worlds and futures upside down. Its the "guys" (offenders) who ooze the slimy feeling thru the web that leaves one to ponder how much they enjoy "stroking" a guy whose every action has done more to Hurt than help their agenda... But I digress."

Until cooler heads prevail, anyone who dares speak out against prevailing prejudices can expect to be tarred and feathered by the vigilante brigade because too many people are self righteously rabid on the subject. .They prefer to believe ."once a pervert always a pervert." They are sick and their mantra: The law of inevitable digression" Erin Merryn could so easily have become one of the vigilanties.
Instead "Erin Merryn is a sexual abuse survivor. She was abused by a family member and a parent of one of her friends. She now wants to help to educate people on the truth of sexual abuse so we can stop and prevent it. " More power to her. And more courage to each one of us to add the voices of women/ mothers/ survivors to a too long deferred conversation

When I was growing up, I was also taught girls need to keep their knees shut until marriage, but boys will be boys. We didn't talk about sex at all, or abuse.

I am educating myself and I talk to my children all the time (age appropriate of course) about sex, body safety, and consent. My youngest admitted to me he struggled with porn (at 10 yrs old). He was ashamed for it. I thanked him for being honest with me and I would help him remove the temptation. A few months later, he came to me again and said he found a way around a block I had placed and was viewing porn again. AGAIN, I thanked him for being honest and asking for help (and reminded him that had his dad asked for help, he wouldn't have gone to prison). My son sees the importance of asking for help. When he sees that he is struggling, he can come to me for help.

These are ways I am trying to break the cycle.

I love Erin Merryn. She is a remarkable woman, who truly wants to stop and prevent sexual abuse. She isn't about a payday or vigilante. She loves the family member who abused her, and forgives them for what they did. She has seen them turn their life around.

I wish the churches would get more involved in pushing for restorative justice. The church believes that ALL can be forgiven, if they ask and receive, but they themselves won't extend forgiveness to others (even though Christ tells us we must forgive others, if we expect to be forgiven by Him.

MyMansWoman, I hope for the same as well. Treatment provided to all victims (past and present).

Another post from Erin's Law:

"With the Federal version of Erin's Law passing the House on Wednesday it is expected to be heard in the Senate early next week. If passed there it is on to President Obama for his signature. This bill does NOT mandate Erin's Law. Erin's Law must be passed state to state it cannot be passed as a school mandate on the Federal level. What this bill does is fund the law for the country allowing schools to use these funds to pay for curriculum, prevention educators/speakers to come to schools and educate students and staff. etc. This is HUGE deal for Erin's Law. My biggest hurdle in each state testifying is legislators telling me this is an "unfunded mandate" how are schools supposed to pay for this. This is going to speed up passing the law in the remaining 24 states and give schools across America so many options."