Nationwide, January was deemed “Human Trafficking Awareness Month.”  In February, there was increased awareness of the problem of human trafficking here in the city of Tacoma. Upon further research into this subject, a very interesting and serious issue emerged. According to Pierce County records, there are at least 2,500 registered sexual and kidnapping offenders in the entire county. The amount of offenders in the entire state is 5,916. Almost 50 percent of the offenders reside in this county alone.

In fact, in a 2 mile radius around Bellarmine, there are 129 registered offenders ranging from level I offenders to level III offenders and those accused of kidnapping. It’s easy to see why Tacoma has such a huge human trafficking problem and why Bellarmine students should be more aware of this issue.

Senior Bryanna Loughridge lives within a block of Visitation. At one point, a registered sex offender lived right behind her house. Loughridge stated, “I think it’s really stupid that the police are focusing around the public schools. They should be more focused on all children.” She explained how a couple with two young children lived near her house. A registered level III sex offender was placed in the house next door to the couple’s. “They need to think more about placing sex offenders a certain distance from schools. They should focus more on child safety and not on what is convenient,” Loughridge stated.

A major obstacle of this issue is the fact that human trafficking isn’t that evident and done behind closed doors. This leads to the lack of media coverage and acknowledgement of the problem.

Bellarmine students have taken the time to try and inform the Bellarmine community of the ever growing serious problem in our local area. From the A-Day announcements to the daily Examens in February, students have been talking about this prevalent issue and asking for the whole community to come together and pray for the victims.

A better understanding and awareness of what is happening in our local community is the best way to help stop the problem.  Even a daily prayer for the victims can be very important. These things may not seem like much, but can actually have a huge impact at the end of the day.

For more information about local human trafficking awareness movements, visit www.waengage.com .

To search the local database for possible sex offenders living near one’s Pierce County residence, go to: http://www.sheriffalerts.com/cap_main.php?office=54483