ACLU Faces Backlash For Defending Convicted Pedophile And Murderer

The American Civil Liberties Union, known for its far-left leanings, has come under fire for its recent defense of Duane Owen, a convicted pedophile and murderer who was executed by the state of Florida on June 15 after decades of insanity defenses and appeals. 

In a tweet aimed at painting Owen as a victim, the organization asserted that Florida had failed to provide “medically necessary gender-affirming care” to Owen throughout the more than 30 years he was in custody. 

“The state of Florida never provided medically necessary gender-affirming care to Duane Owen — causing her enormous suffering and violating her right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment for the more than 30 years she was in state custody,” the tweet read. 

The state of Florida never provided medically necessary gender-affirming care to Duane Owen — causing her enormous suffering and violating her right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment for the more than 30 years she was in state custody. pic.twitter.com/kjmzCrY2uh

— ACLU (@ACLU) June 16, 2023

The public response to ACLU’s defense has been overwhelmingly critical as users from both sides of the aisle voiced their outrage and denounced the organization’s stance.

As usual, the #ACLU likes to defend scumbag criminals, even violent ones, rather than seek justice for the victims & families!

He was a rapist & murderer!!

You are a disgrace to humanity, @ACLU!!

Civilized people are glad he's dead!

I'm one of them!

Burn in hell!!#FTheACLU https://t.co/ywMTxNyPyM pic.twitter.com/ez149COdD8

— Shawn Hawkins (@ArmedPatriot45) June 17, 2023

Conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey asserted that the true injustice lay in the state’s delay in carrying out Owen’s execution. 

“The only injustice in Owen’s case is that it took the state 40 years to execute him,” she wrote.

This man stabbed 14-year-old Karen Slattery 18 times, killing her, then raped her corpse. He committed murder again years later. The only injustice in Owen’s case is that it took the state 40 years to execute him https://t.co/bFbkzSe0v2

— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) June 17, 2023

Echoing Stuckey’s sentiments, actor James Woods highlighted the pain endured by the victims’ loved ones, stating, “If HE had been executed in a timely manner, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Then the loved ones of HIS murdered victims wouldn’t have been the ones who actually suffered for thirty years.”

If HE had been executed in a timely manner, it wouldn’t have been a problem. Then the loved ones of HIS murdered victims wouldn’t have been the ones who actually suffered for thirty years. https://t.co/AlDN1FhasI

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) June 17, 2023

Gays Against Groomers, an organization dedicated to combating child exploitation and indoctrination, expressed shock at ACLU’s focus on something so trivial despite the gravity of Owen’s crime. “This is not parody. Holy f*** these people are monsters,” the group tweeted.

The @ACLU is very upset that a man who raped and murdered a 14 year old girl was never given “gender affirming care” in prison before he was executed.

This is not parody. Holy f*ck these people are monsters. https://t.co/R1uoGQCIof

— Gays Against Groomers (@againstgrmrs) June 17, 2023

“Pedos don’t get their pronouns honored Get ratioed, ACLU,” a user identified as The Redheaded Libertarian wrote.

Duane Owen was executed for killing 14-year-old Karen Slattery whom he repeatedly stabbed and raped in a home in Delray Beach while two children in her care were sleeping nearby. Pedos don’t get their pronouns honored Get ratioed, ACLU. https://t.co/zRINV9AJgg

— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) June 17, 2023

To understand the gravity of Owen’s crimes, it is crucial to revisit the horrifying details. In 1984, he molested and brutally stabbed 14-year-old Karen Slattery to death while two children she was babysitting were sleeping. 

In the same year, he repeated the same brutal acts on 38-year-old Georgiana Worden. In addition to molesting her, he had beaten the single mother of two to death with a hammer while her children slept nearby. 

He also attacked two women who managed to survive before he was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death for the two murders. Owen attempted to escape death row by arguing that he was mentally unstable and identifying as transgender. His lawyers claimed he suffered from delusional schizophrenia and was looking for hormones so he could become a woman.

While the insanity claims got him a new trial in the Slattery killing, a second jury convicted him for the crime and sentenced him to death. Expert psychiatrists also refuted his assertions, stating that Owen exhibited no signs of either mental illness and that it was all an “act.”

While ACLU chooses to focus on trivialities, Slattery’s sister Debbi Johnson, who was 10 years old at the time of the incident, is glad the case is “finally over” after almost 40 years.