Some outlets may be hesitant to publish this op-ed because of the subject matter. It’s heavy. It’s heartbreaking. And for survivors of child sexual abuse, it may be deeply triggering.

But the people of Alabama must confront an undeniable truth: the horrific events in Bibb County are not an anomaly. This isn’t a 100-year flood. Child sexual abuse is a persistent crisis affecting every county in our state.

On Dec. 4, 2024, before announcing my candidacy for attorney general, I sent State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) a text that read: He did. We discussed HB49, which he had pre-filed for the 2025 legislative session. I voiced my full support, urging him to consider adding Sexual Torture of a Child Under the Age of 7 to the list of capital offenses. It was personal to me.

That same day, w

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