Lawmaker aims to tackle issue of sex trafficking

"I think some of our elected officials need to get more involved," Julie Shrader said. "They need to start looking into this."

That is exactly what Nebraska State Senator Carol Blood plans to do. She is working on new legislation for 2018 meant to curb sex trafficking.

"We want to make sure that whatever we craft is truly going to make an impact," Carol Blood said.

It is happening right here in the metro. Earlier this month, a Bellevue West student was arrested, accused of sex trafficking a child. Last September, two teens and a third suspect were arrested for the same type of crime.

Experts like Shrader said the problem is probably more widespread than we realize.

"How much trafficking then is really happening that we have no idea about," Shrader said.

Sen. Blood's legislation will take aim at child pornography. One way she is hoping to tackle the problem is working with young victims and giving them access to resources to get the help they need. While specifics are not in place yet, Blood hopes to take action sooner rather than later.

"What can we do in our communities to make sure that we're truly addressing this feeder because until it's addressed, we never truly address the issue of sex trafficking," Blood said.

Shrader said any type of move tackling trafficking is a step in the right direction.

"This is a bigger issue than people are saying that it is," Shrader said.