May 10, 2010, 5:48PM
Hollyn Johnson | The Flint
JournalSen. John Gleason, D-Flushing,
begins his walk from St. Robert Catholic Church in Flushing to Lansing
to raise awareness about a bill extending the statute of limitations on
childhood sexual abuse Sunday afternoon, May 9, 2010.
FLUSHING,
Michigan — State Sen. John Gleason hit the road Sunday afternoon to
draw attention to new legislation that would extend the statute of
limitations for sexual abuse cases involving minor victims.
Gleason,
D-Flushing, set out on a 50-mile trek to Lansing from his home parish
at St. Robert's Catholic Church in Flushing and plans to present the
legislation in the senate Tuesday.
“It’s important that we
come together as a state and say this is enough,” said Gleason.
Along
the way, Gleason said he had a chance to meet people and talk with them
about the bill.
“People are yelling out the window ‘Go get ‘em
Gleason,’” he said, speaking from Perry on Monday afternoon.
Introduced
Friday, Senate Bill 1321 would extend the statute of limitations 20
years for sexual abuse to minors in cases in the criminal courts. A
similar bill was presented to the Michigan House this year.
Both
bills aim to create a two-year window where victims of childhood sexual
abuse can identify their abusers in court. The window would start
immediately after the bill’s adoption.
Gleason only had one
complaint about his journey.
“There’s a lot of roadkill out
here,” he said.
