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<br />"Most of the cases I'm involved in are all victims that <br />are familiar with their abuser or the perpetrator," Kohl <br />says. "They are all familiar. Lot are family members. <br />Some are just friends." <br />Kohl worries these laws will make it less likely that <br />sex offenses will be reported, because people who <br />find a family member sexually abusing a relative do <br />sometimes want to keep the family together. <br />Kohl says pushing sex offenders into rural areas will <br />make it harder to keep track of them and may push <br />some of them underground. He says that will make Albert Lea more dangerous rather than less. <br />Recently faced with similar arguments, the Austin City Council voted down an ordinance limiting <br />where sex offenders could live. <br />Austin Councilmember Pete Christopherson was concerned initially about people's freedoms. But <br />what really convinced him to vote against the ordinance was Minnesota's existing sex offender <br />monitoring. And he says the law seemed impossible to enforce. <br />"They've always been in Austin ... they're going to be in Austin. Just educate yourself to know what to <br />look for and educate the kids," Christopherson says. <br />To that end, Austin will have the police chief hold meetings with students and teachers on avoiding <br />sexual abuse. <br />Meanwhile, the Albert Lea committee continues its deliberations. It will receive a draft of the proposed <br />ordinance May 10. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />When you commit a felony you <br />give up some of your rights. Does it <br />mean you give up all of your rights, <br />including your right to reside? <br />That's the issue. <br />Albert Lea City Attorney Steve Schwab