State Rep. Donna Givens (R-Loxley) wants to update legislation to strengthen penalties for harassment, stalking and threats against public officials.
A pre-filed bill would extend protections for candidates for public office and their families.
"Across the country — and right here in our state — we've seen an alarming rise in threats, harassment, and even violence targeting public officials," Givens said. "They deserve to do their jobs, or live their lives after public service, without fear of physical harm or targeted abuse. This bill ensures that they can."
Candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Christina Woerner McInnis joined Givens to tell her story after she received messages earlier this year threatening her children.
"When I decided to run for office, I expected opposition. What I did not expect—what no one should ever expect—was to receive sexually explicit threats targeting my children," McInnis said. "These were deliberate, vile, criminal messages meant to break me. To scare me out of the race. To silence me. But they didn't. They fueled me."
Givens said Woerner's McInnis's story inspired her to introduce the bill.
"The fear in her voice broke my heart," Givens said.
The suspect in the Woerner McInnis case was sentenced to 90 days in county jail and served only seven days. Givens's bill would strengthen penalties for physical assault, harassment and harassing communications as follows:
· Elevating physical assault against a current or former public official from a misdemeanor to Assault in the Second Degree, a Class C felony.
· Raising penalties for harassment and harassing communications against public officials from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor.
· Expanding protections to include candidates for public office and their immediate families, ensuring those who step forward to serve are not left unprotected.
· Making technical updates to modernize the legal code without altering its substance.
Givens said the bill is to address a public safety issue that should not be a partisan issue. She said Baldwin County Sheriff Anthony Lowery supports the bill.
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