Sex Offenders in the City
Some days these blog posts just write themselves. The town of Lebanon is looking at passing a ban on sex offenders in the parks.
While similar bans have withstood legal challenges (sex offenders are not a protected class), the people of Lebanon are lulling themselves into a false sense of security if they think this ban will protect their children.
Contrary to popular opinion most sex offenders and their victims are not strangers. According to the U.S. Justice Department it is a blatant myth that most sexual assaults are committed by strangers. The Department found that nearly 60 percent of boys and 80 percent of girls who are sexually victimized are done so by someone known to the child or the child’s family. So if your child is going to come into contact with a sex offender it will probably be a relative, family friend, babysitter, someone in a position of authority over the child or someone who supervises the child. Forget the stranger with candy and the raincoat. If that’s not enough, here are some other fun little facts.
Most sex offenders are not caught, convicted and in prison. Only a fraction of those who commit sexual assault are caught and convicted. In addition, up to half of all cases of child molestation are committed by other adolescents between the ages of 13 to 17. There are some more stats I could throw at you, but I figure I’ve scared you enough.
If the citizens of Lebanon really want to protect their children, they may want to start by doing a check of the people around them. Like the data says, it’s probably not the guy down the street who’s more likely to molest your child, but like vampires, it’s the one you’ve already let into your home.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:26 am
There's no security, only a tool that permits the legal removal of those with a proven history of bending to the more base instincts.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Let's also remember one other thing. It is already against the law to molest a child. If a sex offender chooses to break that law, how can anyone fool themselves into believing that very same sex offender will choose to obey a law that bans him/her from going to a public park? That's like lowering the speed limit by a bank to make it easier to catch a bank robber — as if he would obey the lowered speed limit while making his getaway. The best form of deterrent is proven harsh punishment, not passing more laws that they will also break.
July 16th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I think perhaps we should put some limitations on fundamentalist Christian churches as many molestations happen there…
July 16th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Just because you're a sex offender doesn't mean you're dangerous to children, moreless anyone else.
The officer who manages Grant County's sex offenders says that some are on the list are factory workers (notice the plural) who pinched a co-worker on the derriere, and were advised by their lawyers to plead guilty to sexual harassment. They're guilty of being bozos, not of rape. The law changed, and now the county is required to list these guys. They might not have pleaded guilty had they known they'd be forever branded.
Or take the senior in high school who has a freshman girlfriend. Her dad doesn't like him and has him charged with a statutory offense. Doesn't matter that it was consensual. True, not a good idea to have sex before you're old enough to be an effective parent. But branded a child molester for the rest of his life? Totally out of whack.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I agree that the branding is way off base. But That's a different issue.
I was in Central Park one time (in NYC) hanging out with my kids while my wife was shopping. They were at a playground. Just as my wife was returning, I noticed a middle-aged man standing between two trees in the distance, facing the playground and totally exposed. He was sporting an overcoat and had suspenders holding up pant legs so that it looke like he was dressed when the coat was closed.
I was instantly enraged. In order to chase the guy down I had to leave the playground on the opposite side, away from the creep, and then circle the entire perimeter. He had started rushing away from the moment I spotted him so I never did catch up to him by the time I'd made my way to where he was.
My opinion: Yes, the sex offenders who are willing to break the law will continue to break it. But please, give us more leverage to keep them away from our kids. Not the teen lovers or the poor decision makers who pinched a backside or two. I'm talking about the ones who want to molest and kill our kids.
FYI – I'm usually the last person who advocates any new law or allowance granted to government. My tune changes dramatically when it comes to child molesters.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:09 am
How odd. A person can be branded a so-called 'child molester' who would never think of harming a child. They are branded, forced to register, and endure hatred, scorn and ridicule forever.
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But, the murderer, robber or burglar doesn't have to register.
Personally, I would rather know where the killers, robbers and burglars live. THEY are the ones who might actually harm me and mine before a so-called child molester or sexual predator.
July 17th, 2009 at 9:09 am
How odd. A person can be branded a so-called 'child molester' who would never think of harming a child. They are branded, forced to register, and endure hatred, scorn and ridicule forever.
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But, the murderer, robber or burglar doesn't have to register.
Personally, I would rather know where the killers, robbers and burglars live. THEY are the ones who might actually harm me and mine before a so-called child molester or sexual predator.