GRAHAM COUNTY, N.C. — A letter from the Graham County sheriff is striking up a debate.
Sheriff Danny Millsaps wrote the letter, saying sex offenders aren't allowed to attend services at Graham County churches.
READ the letter by clicking here
Millsaps wrote the letter to 20 registered sex offenders in the county.
It states they can still attend services at the local jail.
Millsaps cited state law that prevents sex offenders from being in close proximity to children, in places like schools and day cares.
"I wouldn't feel safe around them," resident Mike Lancaster said. "I wouldn't want to be around them. And I wouldn't want my kids around them."
"They may be a sex offender, whether it's male or female, but they have a right to go to church," said resident Jessica Frost.
Millsaps said he may have been mistaken in his wording, because the Constitution gives everyone the right to religious freedom.
However, he said he's standing by his take on the law.
The North Carolina ACLU said it has grave concerns about measures that bar an individual from a house of worship.
It said the sheriff's letter does not balance public safety with safeguarding First Amendment rights.
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