How would you feel?
How would you feel if you received a recorded phone message from your local sheriff informing you that a convicted sex offender had moved within four blocks of your home? The man is in his 30’s, and was convicted of raping a woman at gun point.
I received that call yesterday.
I received that call yesterday.
posted by pissed off patricia at 4:06 AM
28 Comments:
I'd be nervous... but at least NOW you know about him. If you really want the bejeebus scared outta you check out:
http://www.familywatchdog.us/
You can enter your home address -- or any address you want -- and a map will pop up showing where you are located and where sex offenders live and work around you.
True story: After checking out the area near our home, Hubby and I checked out the area near his parents' home in the city next to us. Our jaws hit the floor when we saw the name of our friend's boyfriend. Even scarier: This guy is a registered sex offender for preying upon girls under the age of 15. Our friend has a child with this guy. A 2 yr old little girl. We printed the info out and mailed it to her anonymously. They are no longer living together. We may have very well split up their relationsgip, but we also may have saved that little girl from a life of absolute hell. Bottom line: It is always better to know than NOT to know.
Better to know than NOT to know, but it's definitely tough to put a positive spin on this kind of news. Perhaps the "neighborhood welcome wagon" could convey the message that his really isn't a welcome addition to the community?
I'd appreciate the alert. We had one move in just 3 doors down - moved in with his Ma. It took one day for the news to leak out and it traveled like wildfire through the village. That's a good thing, the notification process. Before, we had no idea and ignorance was not bliss for many.
You can find out where all of them are in your neighborhood by checking your state's Megan's Law Registry.
In theory, once you've done the time, you've paid the price. While many convicted felons do return to society chastened and wiser, never to break the law again, many don't.
In reality, for heinous crimes like these you pay the price forever. If we don't throw away the keys, we have to let them out. We can track them and we can make sure everyone around them knows who they are. I would want to know too. And I'd be nervous on finding out. And (if he sexually assaulted middle aged men) I'd probably want to protect myself.
I am surely glad the sheriff's dept. put out the notification. I am also feeling a bit nervous. I think it's normal to feel that way. Even if it isn't, that's way I feel right now.
PoP,
Mrs. P & I have argued about this for the past year. I contend that it doesn't do any good to know, that it makes you paranoid and suspicious, but she claims she wants to know. With a 9 year old who is gaining more independence by the day as he rides his bicycle around the neighborhood, I'm not sure what I should do with any knowledge I might get about who's screwed who in the past. Maybe John Walsh can tell us how to handle the information we get off the Megan's Watch sites.
How come they only call about the men?
If you check your state and local sex offender registry you'll find you have many of these people living around you. The call was a shocking I'm sure but that one guy isnt all that you have neer you I'm sure. Also, you cant find out how many other felons are living by you, murderers, robbers, meth heads... all sorts. The best thing you can do is be aware of your surrounding, and take prudent sensible measures to protect your self. look around when your walking around, dont look at the ground, dont be so involved in talking on the cell phone that you arent aware of people around you. Lock your doors, have your keys ready. bad guys look for vulnerable, distracted people to make their victims. The best way to not become one, is not acting like one.
You want the truth or something that will make you feel better?
The truth: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Something that will make you feel better: Oh, I know that guy. Don't worry about it. He was chemically castrated and both his arms were amputated.
I would definitely want to know. The sheriff's office did the right thing letting you know.
Since you brought the subject up, I went to the VA State Police website and checked its sex offender registry. Turns out there's five of them within a half mile of my apartment. Great. But at least I know where they live now...
I'd actually feel safer. Four blocks is pretty far, and at least you can figure out who it is. If they'd call about someone that far away, they'd probably call about someone next door... better far away than close, I say.
When it comes to people's rights, I feel if you commit no crime, you should have your privacy... you rape, maim, molest, or murder and aren't in a cage, then you forsake your rights as punishment for forsaking others'.
It's probably good to know, probably not good to overreact or live in fear. I would take some precautions for my family to avoid him.
What a world.
Better to know and be reminded that we all need to take certain precautions and sadly not be so trusting and open.
I checked our excellent Megan's Law website at the request of a neighbor and discovered the area within a mile radius of our house contains at least 25 - probably more.
Of course it's frightening but I worry far more of about the molestors I don't know about that the ones I do.
Family, friends, religious leaders, teachers, the people we should be able to trust. It's sad and it's frightening.
(Speaking generally of course).
I know what I'D say...
God Bless the NRA!
Forewarned is Fore Armed.
Do you know what he looks like?
Anyway some people some people should never get out. Ever.
Tina And PT - thanks for the links.
Peace ya all.
It's good to have these sort of tools in a day and age when it is impossible to tell good from bad by appearances, occupation, or any other of the usual "means".
I would get a gun and a dog! And be very afraid! The dog will bark and warn you in time to load and aim your gun- right between his legs. When is the criminal justice system going to get serious about these creeps and keep them locked up for life? When it comes to sexual offenses, I believe one strike and you are out-forever. Rapists and child molesters can not be rehabilitated. I worked with these offenders when I worked as a mental health therapists. Most people who have worked with them will tell you the same- treatment does not work for these guys- they will always be a danger as long as they are allowed out into our society. We have to wake up and do whatever needs done to keep them from getting their hands on another child or the rapist attacks another woman. They seem to have no problem finding the creep after he has ruined a child, but then they let them back out again after their short sentence and they are soon out offending again. This has got to stop. We women should orgnaize and make the justice system make changes in the sentecing of these dregs of society. This issue really is personal to me and could go and on, but I will spare you and get off my rant. Just be careful!
Linda- Isabella's human
You have every right to be nervous and yes a phone call like that would shake anyone up...but it is better than not knowing...always...and yeah...be careful....
get pepper spray....and hell maybe even something more defensive...
learn as much as you can about this guy....Knowledge is power....( just sucks to get it in a phone messege...hope they also post at Park Bathrooms etc)
It would make me feel like moving th ehell out of Florida. Shit, he raped a woman at GUNPOINT? He's out of prison? And he is in his THIRTIES? Shit, how old was he when he commited this crime, eight?
LOL pagan, I wondered the same thing.
I need to check and see how long you stay in prison if you commit rape at gunpoint down here.
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p o p, i think it's wonderful (bad choice of words but i know no other) the sheriff's office notified you.
i check my state's registry periodically.
i have ties to a s a c (sexual assault crisis) center and i KNOW what these (mostly) men can do to eff up a life and the lives of family members and friends.
in theory yes, they've done the time but i for one am of the belief sexual predators are NEVER cured. NEVER
I guess there's also the possibility that the reason he evidently was granted parole so soon was because he pleaded guilty and thus saved the victim the trauma of going through a trial. Usually, in such cases, judges and prosecutors agree to a lesser sentence. In this case, if that is what has happenned, it is very unfortunate.
bad guys look for vulnerable, distracted people to make their victims.
Yeah, I remember when I was going thru my divorce, and I was hopping mad one night. I didn't want to take it out on him in front of the kids, so I went out for a walk. In LA. During the hillside strangler seige.
I had been taking Kung Fu, and I admit, all I really wanted was to rip someone's throat out, so I was walking kinda like the terminator. :)
Nobody said boo to me that night!
I'd be pretty frickin' glad that he was 4 blocks away and not next door ... and I'd make damn sure I knew what he looked like ... that really sucks ... take care pop ... he's probably afraid of black racers, though ...
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