For better or worse, the conversations of politicians matter. And, in that arena, we, unfortunately, need to remain informed and involved. At first glance, the conversations and proposals of political committees can cause our eyes to gloss over and our minds to wander. But, we must stick with it and engage! Just as with the boring details of unenforceable loitering laws, the details of the law matter—and, they matter because they have real world implications.
When we read that the reported national statistic is that at minimum 1 in 6 missing children are trafficked and exploited, we should keep ourselves aware of the practical means in which these horrors are accomplished. While many imagine elaborate stories well suited for Hollywood, the reality exists in the shadows of our community that we seek to avoid: local motels, nearby street corners, and in the private spaces of unsavory massage parlors. MissingNoMore exists, firstly, to find these missing kids with the hope of ending or preventing exploitation; but, such a mission also requires us to be a voice of advocacy combating the conditions in which the atrocities of child exploitation thrive.
