kens5.com (TX): Boerne city council votes to expand sex offender boundary lines and prohibited lists.
In a vote of 4-1, Boerne City Council made it unlawful for registered sex offenders to reside within 1500 feet of places where children gather.
Prior to this, state law prohibited registered sex offenders from going within 1000 feet of just schools or parks. Boerne has expanded that list to include public and private playgrounds, daycares, public libraries, and more.
The vote came after an hour and a half of debate. One councilman called it a very decisive issue for the city. The community seemed split down the middle in their support for it or against it.
Those against it argued it would severely limit the areas in which registered sex offenders could live. Thus, it would create a cluster of sex offenders. That would lower property values in those areas, and make it unsafe for the children who already live in those areas.
Another big argument against the ordinance was that it was not ethical or even an effective way to protect children. The councilman who voted against it said, "The threat to our children is so much less the guy in the trench coat hiding under the street light. As it is, it's the people they already know. The vast majority of crimes to children are committed by the people they know."
Council also voted to increase the fine for anyone who violates this ordinance from $500 to $2000.
As reported, about half those residents understand that these residency limits do not work, and cause unintended negative consequences for the city. Sadly, their city council is still ignorant about these facts and is still hand-picking low-hanging political fruit from the tree.
