“As a former ACLU lobbyist, Deborah Ross fought for some of the organization’s most extreme policies. Ross even sided with sex offenders as she argued that an online registry wouldn’t protect children.
“Deborah Ross was no one’s first choice for this job. In the coming months her radical record will be exposed for the danger it is to North Carolina families.” – NRSC Spokeswoman, Alleigh Marré
THE FACTS:
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The DSCC was turned down by not one, not two, not three, but four, potential recruits before endorsing Deborah Ross.
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In 1997, Ross Was Opposed To An Online Sex Offender Registry In North Carolina Saying “It Will Have Unintended Consequences” And It Won’t Protect Children. “People checking offender lists might be surprised by what they find, some skeptics predict. They might discover people they know – not strangers who threaten their children. And even though victims’ names are supposed to remain private, those involving family members won’t be too hard to figure out. ‘It will have unintended consequences,’ said Deborah Ross, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. ‘It’s another high-profile attempt to deal with the problem,’ Ross added. ‘The question is: Is this going to protect the kids?’ Her answer: no. Ross said the state could do much more to protect children by improving treatment for sex offenders and by helping families at risk of sexual abuse.” (Foon Rhee and Kathleen McClain, “Senate Broadens Sex Offender List,” Charlotte Observer, 5/22/97)
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Ross Said “There Are Serious Concerns About What People Do With This Information” And Warned Of “Vigilantism.” “At the same time, a registry this public could pose a threat to the idea of community itself. ‘There are serious concerns about what people do with this information,’ says Deborah Ross, director of the North Carolina affiliate of the ACLU. ‘There’s no oversight, and there’s no specific rules about how to use it–that’s where we will get into the problems of improper identification and vigilantism.’” (Austin Bunn, “Digitizing Megan’s Law,” The Village Voice, 4/21/98)
- Ross Said “One Would Hope That Law Enforcement Would Enforce The Law Against Vigilantes And Harassers Of Sex Offenders As Much As They Do Against Sex Offenders Themselves.” “The passing of Megan’s Law drew critical attention to the risks of violence against children, but online registries like North Carolina’s walk a fine line between civic duty and ‘exploiting paranoia,’ says the ACLU’s Ross. ‘One would hope that law enforcement would enforce the law against vigilantes and harassers of sex offenders as much as they do against sex offenders themselves.’ But with their past on public display, it’s hard to believe these offenders will ever be granted the gift of privacy.” (Austin Bunn, “Digitizing Megan’s Law,” The Village Voice, 4/21/98)