A California lawmaker has a new proposal that would require paroled sex offenders to add their e-mail addresses and other on-line identification to the long list of information they provide to the state.
The proposed law would also ban offenders from going on to social networking sites.
Last year the state of New York passed a similar law after their officials found more than 3 thousand sex offenders from that state on sites like Facebook. Now one of our lawmakers says we're overdue for the same kind of protection for our kids
We know these are hunting grounds for those individuals who are looking for their next victim.
California State Senator George Runner said shock and sadness over tragedies such as the brutal murder of 17 year old Chelsea King have motivated him to propose a new law designed to keep predators away from kids.
He said California State lawmakers have not been tough enough on sex offenders.
"The tragedy down there in San Diego is an example of a legislature that failed to move," said Runner.
If it becomes law, runner's proposal would require paroled sex offenders to register their e-mail addresses with law enforcement, it would also make it a parole violation and a crime for offenders to become members of social networking sites like facebook and myspace.com. Ultimately law enforcement would collaborate with the sites
Joshua Threlkeld is in Riverside County jail facing more than 135 felonies, including charges of raping a Palm Springs girl.
"They are stalkers, they are prowlers they are trying to figure out how to trick somebody," said Runner.
Runner's bill will be argued in Sacramento at the end of this month.
He believes the biggest hurdle to its passage is the public safety committee, which he said has traditionally failed to get tough on sex offenders.
