There has been a shocking turn-of-events in the California legislature. The legislative body known for its immorality, perversion, and setting a day each year to honor a pedophile has passed AB 218 increasing the time survivors of sexual abuse can seek justice. On October 13, 2019, Governor Newsom signed the bill into law.
The law increases that statute of limitations on reporting childhood sexual assault and bringing a civil suit against a perpetrator. Under the new law, childhood victims of sexual assault have until the age of 40, or anytime thereafter within 5-years of discovering a psychological – related injury, to file a civil lawsuit for damages. It also provides a three-year “look-back” window for revival of claims that would have otherwise expired because of the previous statute of limitations.
Furthermore, the legislation says that if the abuse was covered-up, the victims may be entitled to up to triple the damages. Some believe that this law will allow 1,000 additional victims to pursue relief from perpetrators and others who were complicit in a cover-up.
The bill authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) passed the Assembly 69-0 and 33-0 in the Senate.
“The idea that someone who is assaulted as a child can actually run out of time to report that abuse is outrageous,” Gonzalez said. “More and more we’re hearing about people who were victims years ago but were not ready to come forward to tell their story until now. We shouldn’t be telling victims their time is up when in reality we need them to come forward to protect the community from future abuse.”
The Gonzalez legislation arose following allegations of the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests and after Larry Nassar, former US Olympic gymnastics team doctor, was sentenced to life in prison in January 2018 for crimes committed against young female athletes over a span of two decades. More than 250 women testified against Nassar.
“Childhood abuse continues to ruin children’s lives and continues to shock the nation because, unfortunately, perpetrators continue to abuse, often with impunity, and sometimes, with the help of third parties who either choose not to get involved or actively cover-up the abuse,” according to the Assembly Floor Analysis of the bill.
In cases where a child is sexually abused, AB 218 allows courts to award damages to the victim from anyone found guilty of engaging in the cover-up.
“This reform is clearly needed both to compensate victims who never should have been victims – and would not have been if past sexual assault had been properly brought to light – and also as an effective deterrent against individuals and entities who have chosen to protect the perpetrators of sexual assault over the victims,” Gonzalez noted in the bill’s analysis.
The Victim Policy Institute (VPI) said in support of the bill that too many abusers avoid accountability for their actions. “The only good thing to come out of recent scandals was an environment that encouraged well-known women – actors or Olympians – who were victims of childhood sexual assault to come forward.” VPI wrote, “It is time for the law to recognize what we all now know that it can take decades before some survivors are capable of coming forward.”
Though the bill rightfully shames and targets the very institutions (schools, athletic organizations and churches) that should protect children, it makes no mention of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that ignore their duty as mandated reporters where minor girls receive treatment and abortions resulting from being sexually active with adults.
Sexual deviancy and child sacrifice have become religious rituals of this secular society. Abortionists and clinic workers are its ministers. They ignore reporting possible crimes when it comes to the sexual abuse of children.
The justice system is complicit with the cover-up as well. Law enforcement and probation perform stings to catch stores and bars selling tobacco products and alcohol to minors, they seek kids who skip school, but then look the other way as young teen girls are trafficked, pimped-out, molested and then taken to Planned Parenthood for services while a crime is never reported.
AB 218 is a step forward but the government’s blind eye to millions of minor girls being violated while tax-funded businesses are protected from prosecution is evil.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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