Maryland sex offenders got something in the mail this week: a scarlet letter in the form of a bright orange pumpkin:
That is the symbol on a sign they are required to post on their doors with a warning, in capital letters, to trick-or-treaters: "No candy at this residence." [...]
In addition to posting the sign, the offenders must stay at home, turn off outside lights and not answer the door, according to the letter obtained by The Washington Times.
"Because Halloween is a holiday in which large numbers of children interact with strangers, the concern among parents and other community members about sexual offenders in their neighborhoods is naturally intensified during this time of year," Patrick McGee, interim director of the state's Division of Parole and Probation, wrote in the Oct. 1 letter.
Something sounds bogus about this, like somebody saw the sign at Wal-Mart and decided to make up a story for it.
Parents are more concerned about poisoned candies and peanut allergies than they are about violent sex offenders on Hallowe'en.
http://www.cfcoklahoma.org/
@Ted: Nope, not bogus, it's a real deal, and I know folks who are VERY concerned about where their kids go to get candy.
True, I haven't seen any reports of mass child molestings by repeat offenders on Halloween (which is obviously the target for this campaign...) and statistics bear out that a predator is most likely to molest someone they know personally, usually a neighbor or family member, but vigilance is a good idea no matter the circumstance.
Both Halloween and Election Day are coming. So, we’re not at all surprised that politicians across the nation are once again posing as Heroes in the fight against the Great Sex Offender Trick-or-Treat Bogeyman. Under the banner of protecting children, they’re restricting the actions of all sex offenders on Halloween, and sending out hordes of probation officers to make sure they stay in their homes (and, in some states, target themselves by posting “No Candy Here” signs), while expecting sheriff and police officials to monitor sex offender compliance on an already especially busy night.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/...
It amazes me that it can be proved with government statics that there has NEVER been a case where a REGISTERED sex offender EVER molested a trick or treater at their door. Or harmed them in any way. So what is the problem here.
Well, politicians are the real scary ones out there. They and the news media for ratings and votes will do and say anything. That’s the bottom line.
When I grew up, I heard some of my elders tell me not to drink in that fountain because a black man or woman would drink from it. I always asked why could I not drink there? Would I get germs??? Would it make me sick??
In today’s society, the politician’s have lied to the public about the recidivism rates of sex offenders. Politician’s have lied to the public about “stranger danger” as most offenses occur between a family member or someone the victim knows. These are facts not just spouting’s.
Parents do need to keep an eye on their children as they always have, but there is no reason to believe that someone is lurking around the corner or behind every bush that is going to take an hurt your child.
Happy Halloween. Beware of politicians. They are the scariest of them all.
Only one who is inherently interested in fear mongering would use Halloween to petrify the public into thinking that Halloween is unsafe because of the presence of RSO’s. To calculate risk in epidemiology, you divide the number of cases divided by the population of interest. In this case it would be 1/650,000. The risk is so incredibly low that my calculator gives the division an error!!!!!! ” That is only for 1 year, now times that by say, 50 years. OH MY! Fear mongering is what the entertainment news media and politicians are MORE concerned about than protecting children.
MSLGWCEO at www.cfcoklahoma.org
Read this article, "MORE SCARY HALLOWEEN LAWS AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS."
Here: http://www.cfcoklahoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186%3Amore-scary-halloween-laws-against-sex-offenders&Itemid=1
It's not fake, it's really what they make them do around here.
And as for recidivism? Well, I know of at least one well-publicized case where a violent sex offender killed a boy after being released from prison.
That's why you accompany your kids. By the time they're old enough to go out on their own, they're probably too old for door-to-door candy anyways.
Just like the myths of poisoned candy, or razor bladed apples.
not only do i find this to be an invasion of privacy, but also just another way to keep those who have paid their dues from re-entering society. believe it or not, SOME people who come out of jail just want to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. but it is laws like this that keeps people from living a normal life again, which often causes repeat offenses because of one phrase: "what's the point?" what's the point in trying to live a normal life when the government isn't going to let you forget your crime anyway? the penal system is completely f-cked up on so many levels, and this is just one of them.