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	Remove Statute of Limitations on Child Sex Abuse By Billie J. Hall Lynch The Mlive January 25, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/opinion/saginaw/index.ssf/2011/01/remove_statute_of_limitations.html I am writing you about a subject that is very close to my heart. The statute of limitations on the crime of child sexual abuse needs to be removed. Many times, victims do not face their abuse in the time frame the law allows. When this happens, it prevents the pedophiles from being prosecuted, and allows them to continue abusing children. I am a survivor of over 12 continuous years of sexual abuse. I was trained from the age of 4 to keep this secret at all costs. I kept my mouth shut, and let the secret nearly destroy me before finally breaking down at the age of 37. I went to the Michigan State Police in Bridgeport with my story in early 2008. I was told the prosecutor wouldn't take the case because I waited too long. I was left feeling empty, defeated and re-victimized by the system. My abuser should have been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which does not have a statute of limitations in Michigan, but for some reason the Saginaw County Prosecutor's Office disagreed. I have heard from numerous others who have run into this same problem when trying to get justice, not just in Michigan but all across our country. Please take a stand and help change the laws pertaining to child sexual abuse. Push your state representatives to remove the statute of limitations on this crime, so once a victim is able to face their abuse they can prosecute these monsters! We also need stiffer sentences for perpetrators, and stop allowing them back out on our streets to do it again. Stand up for our children. No child should ever have to go through this pain. Please write your state representatives and the governor, and ask them to do what is right by our children!
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