The hopes of those wanting Missouri to adopt Erin’s law now rest in the House of Representatives.       Erin Merryn, a young Chicago woman, says she learned all about fire drills, tornado drills, bus drills, stranger danger, and eight ways to say “No” to drugs.   But there was never a drill on escaping a child molester; there was never a lesson on sexual abuse, safe touches and safe secrets.

She was raped before she was 7; and abused for several years.

That’s the Erin behind Erin’s law, as described by Senator Ryan McKenna of Crystal City. His bill sets up a state task force that will recommend an age-appropriate child abuse curriculum for the public schools.  He hopes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would adopt the program. The senate has approved the bill, which has three weeks left to get through the House.

 Listen to the Senate debate mp3