My issue is that includes kids convicted of having sex with other kids, voyeurs, indecent exposures, and all sorts of people who I don't remotely consider true threats. I think it's largely a scare tactic promoted by the government to keep us scared.
If my kids were still small having a sex offender live nearby wouldn't alter the way I treated them, I still wouldn't let small kids go out without a trusted adult, let them hang out on the streets or in any other way not be in a position of safety. Knowing you're in an area which hasn't got any registered sex offenders doesn't relieve you of any parental responsibilities and I would hope parents wouldn't let their kids alone with anyone they didn't trust 100%.
My son doesn't go outdoors by himself. But there is a guy listed as being a registered sex offender in my neighborhood. I didn't think to check how old he was, but he looked to be my age or younger. His crime was "possession of child pornography". I understand that this can be somewhat easily misconstrued. If a 16 year old girl sent him nudie pics online, and he was 18 at the time, that's not really all that bad... but it IS considered possession of child porn, I think. BUT... the thing is, a month or so ago when my son still had his mohawk, we went out for a walk. We walked the neighborhood, and at one point, some guy rode by on his bike and said to my son, "Hey dude, cool hair!" I now know that the guy that said this to my son is none other than the guy I saw online who is a registered offender for possessing child porn. I just found this online.
"Legislative Summary:
Missouri SB 1307 clearly defines child pornography and the possession of it. A person commits the crime of possession of child pornography if the individual possesses it and if that person knows what the contents are. A person caught with more than 20 items of child pornography is deemed to have knowledge of the contents of the items found on the computer. The act establishes affirmative defenses to the crime of possession of child pornography. They include taking deliberate steps to destroy the child pornography and preventing anyone except law enforcement agents to view it. The age of a child who looks to be under the age of eighteen is to be established, which includes using expert medical testimony. The child does not need to be identified or even appear at the proceedings. If found guilty of the possession of no more than 20 items of child pornography it is a Class C felony, and a Class B felony for more than 20 items."
That is a bit broad, but I'm still on alert with this guy. He might be harmless, he might not. I don't want to find out that he's not harmless the hard way.
That's what I'm talking about. He gives your kid a compliment, you automatically take it as hitting on him. Where does this sound familiar. Oh yeah, when gay people come out of the closet and tell their best friend that they like his clothes. Point Made.
I think he's trying to say that not every "registered sex offender" is a child molester.Im surprised the number is that low
What the hell are you thinking extremelyhateable?
And again, there's always the assumption that registered offender = child molester, and that's just not always the case.This is what TMM is talking about, she can't ignore this register as she has a child, and any parents first duty is to protect her child. It's Human Nature. And as their child's protector Parents have every right to have access to these registers.
I'm glad lists like this exist for more than one reason. One as a parent, I can keep track of the sex offenders that live in the area. Two, that if I might accept a date from someone online I can check their name in the database, which I do with general state correctional records anyhow.
I think there are many cases that are right on the line such as two underaged people having consentual sex and one of their parents making sure the other kid gets in trouble. But in the case where the person is a sexual preditor, I feel it is in the communities best interest to know where these offenders reside so we can educate ourselves and our children about those who live in our area.
I know on our state sex offender list, it specifically indicates criteria and they are pretty specific in each case to put the age group. Even if, some people may be "rehabbed" I do feel as a parent that the community has a right to know that these people live in their neighborhood.
I honestly wish they had the data base to follow released murderers, even if the crime was done when they were a minor (but charged as an adult). Reason being, growing up in a small community. I had one of my classmates kill another classmate. To this day, it scares the crap out of me that this murderer, is living who knows among us, where except his parole officer.
To a lot of people, homosexuality is an illness.
I don't believe child molesters can be rehabilitated. Burglars and those convicted of grand theft auto, or DUI. Yes, they can and should be given a chance at rehabilitation.Everyone deserves a chance for redemption.
The case of William Elliott pretty much sums up the problem I have with public sex-offender registries:
Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness Synopsis: William Elliott was 20 when he had consensual sex with his 17-year-old girlfriend. The girlfriend's dad wasn't thrilled, and Elliott wound up on a sex offender registry.
Elliott would become the second victim of Stephen Marshall, a vigilante who killed 2 complete strangers by picking them, apparently at random, from said sex offender registry.
But its not!!!
I don't know what it means where you live, but I got a definition of Virginia's version of that law here: Virginia Sex Crime Defense Lawyer Sexual Offense Attorney Internet Minor Child Pornography
The second-to-last section is about that.