In The News

U.S. lawmakers introduce bills seeking harsher penalties for 'johns'

Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate have introduced matching bills that would impose harsher penalties on those who solicit sexual acts from children.

Kendis Paris, executive director for Truckers Against Trafficking – or TAT – said the identical bills, HR2805, and S1354, known as the “End Sex Trafficking Act of 2013” would seek harsher penalties for “johns” and the “role they play in allowing the business of sex trafficking to flourish.”

HR2805 was introduced by Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, along with Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, and Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn. The bill has 30 co-sponsors.

The Senate bill was introduced by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. His bill has one co-sponsor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Recently, 105 children were rescued and more than 150 pimps arrested as a result of a nationwide sex trafficking sweep carried out in 76 cities in the U.S.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced its results of “Operation Cross Country” in late July.

“It is about time that they (johns) are charged, and on a federal level, alongside pimps and traffickers because if it weren’t for the seemingly endless demand, this crime would not be nearly as pervasive,” Paris told Land Line on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Copyright © 2013 landlinemag.com. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from landlinemag.com