I agree that Megan's law makes NIMBYism much easier, which makes it hard for people who made mistakes 20 years ago to find housing and neighbors. Clearly it is up to you if you feel comfortable moving there.
I wasn't trying to shame anyone, and I'm sorry if it came off like that. I was just making the observation about how the timing of when you learn something can make all the difference in a reaction.
I absolutely don't blame you for giving pause. We had one right next to our development, and while his offense was rather ambiguous, I still preferred my kids not to be near the house unsupervised.
I agree the law needs some work though. We had another guy who was accused of (and eventually convicted) raping a then twelve-year-old. He had befriended her, lured her to his house and sexually assaulted her of the course of several years. He was arrested but after he posted bail he came back home, awaiting trial. During that time the people on his street got some sort of notification about the ongoing litigation, but our neighborhood, which backs up to his property, did not. He shared an actual yard/property line with a family who has two girls (10 and 13), and they have a backyard pool.
Now, I know that he is/was innocent until proven guilty, and there is absolutely no reason for anyone to be notified until he had been convicted BUT someone like that is much more of a threat than a lot of the offenders on ML. By the time he was convicted, he was in jail forever. It just opened my eyes to the fact that the list doesn't do much to keep us safe.
I wasn't trying to shame anyone, and I'm sorry if it came off like that. I was just making the observation about how the timing of when you learn something can make all the difference in a reaction.
I'm sick and it was before 5/around 5, I also apologize if I came off full Tom Green-low-blood-sugar-reaction. You're fine.
I wouldn't necessarily freak if I was already living in that house. But to purchase it now, no.
Although one of the best arguments I heard against the registry was that it gives parents this idea that they need to watch their children more around "that guy's house" or don't go near "that guy's house" when really the only way to make sure your kids are safe is to assume that ALL of your neighborhood is full of sex offenders. There are no safe neighborhoods. Your neighbor could be someone who hasn't gotten caught or is about to commit a crime. Something to that effect. It's the whole false sense of security thing of thinking, "Oh good no offenders on my block." Then there is also knowing an offender can move next door to me and make it impossible for me to sell my house issue.
I don't think the registry is so wonderful but I'd sure as hell use it since it's there.
Are you people really shaming her for preferring not to live near a sex offender? I know, I know, you'd be smiling cheerily if it were you. I am taking a wild guess that exceptions to the rule, like 16 year-olds texting 20 year-olds are just that, exceptions. Most of the offenders in my area are attempted rapists.
No shaming. I made that clear. I think it is really misunderstood how effective Megan's law is in clumping a whole lot of different offenders into one category.
In my experience, there have been more wrongful 16 +20 year old's situations than truly people understand. They are more easily seen and prosecuted than the truly horrible offenders who are often under the radar for years.
This is just my experience. I sure as fuck would not shame anyone for their refusal to buy a house.
Are you people really shaming her for preferring not to live near a sex offender? I know, I know, you'd be smiling cheerily if it were you. I am taking a wild guess that exceptions to the rule, like 16 year-olds texting 20 year-olds are just that, exceptions. Most of the offenders in my area are attempted rapists.
No shaming. I made that clear. I think it is really misunderstood how effective Megan's law is in clumping a whole lot of different offenders into one category.
In my experience, there have been more wrongful 16 +20 year old's situations than truly people understand. They are more easily seen and prosecuted than the truly horrible offenders who are often under the radar for years.
This is just my experience. I sure as fuck would not shame anyone for their refusal to buy a house.
Are you people really shaming her for preferring not to live near a sex offender? I know, I know, you'd be smiling cheerily if it were you. I am taking a wild guess that exceptions to the rule, like 16 year-olds texting 20 year-olds are just that, exceptions. Most of the offenders in my area are attempted rapists.
The 20 y/old texting his 16 y/old girlfriend isn't an exception at all. They are expressly covered by the rule. A lot of people on the registry are on it for things like masturbating in their car, or for having a relationship with a teen while they're in their late teens. Hell, people get put on it for peeing in public. That's not an anomaly, it happens, and it's absolutely intentional because the law could, of course, have been written to exclude them and wasn't. I don't like the registry as a general rule, but if we are going to have one, it really should be limited to felony cases that involve either children under 12 or more than a 6 year age difference, or sex crimes committed using force.
Are you people really shaming her for preferring not to live near a sex offender? I know, I know, you'd be smiling cheerily if it were you. I am taking a wild guess that exceptions to the rule, like 16 year-olds texting 20 year-olds are just that, exceptions. Most of the offenders in my area are attempted rapists.
The 20 y/old texting his 16 y/old girlfriend isn't an exception at all. They are expressly covered by the rule. A lot of people on the registry are on it for things like masturbating in their car, or for having a relationship with a teen while they're in their late teens. Hell, people get put on it for peeing in public. That's not an anomaly, it happens, and it's absolutely intentional because the law could, of course, have been written to exclude them and wasn't. I don't like the registry as a general rule, but if we are going to have one, it really should be limited to felony cases that involve either children under 12 or more than a 6 year age difference, or sex crimes committed using force.
And I still wouldn't live near a sex offender. Thanks for the info, though, I was not aware.
In my area a few weeks after I moved in I put in my zip code and dozens upon dozens come up. I didn't bother trying to figure out who was closest to me as I always assume there are convicted sex offenders and murderes of some kind in my vicinity.
The first name I clicked on in my area though was someone who was convicted at 15 for having sex with a 13 year old in 1988.
Meh, that wouldn't phase me one bit. That could have been a text sent from a 16 year old to her boyfriend who is sadly 20 and now a sex offender.
I think this is exactly why I hate Megan'so law. It doesn't protect anyone.
BUT, it is your decision and if it makes you feel uncomfortable I completely understand. Hopefully you find something soon.
WTF?
Where fluffer lives, you can see a pic of the person, and know when they were convicted. So I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt here, and guess that she isn't getting worked up about a 20 year old getting sexts from his 16 year old girlfriend. But I'll still give you a hearty side eye for that statement alone, because I sure as SHIT would be upset if it were my 16 year old daughter, and would be positively furious at the 20 year old. Probably enough to press charges.
A 4 year old age difference isn't a big deal when you're 30 and 34. But it most definitely is when you're talking 16 and 20.
What if it was your son that was the 20 year old? Would you be so quick to support the girl's family in pressing charges against him for getting a sext from his girlfriend?
Post by PeonyParty on Jan 18, 2016 12:22:48 GMT -5
I can see both sides of the argument. But since we will most likely never know the whole story for anything we see on the list, I'd control my controllables and would probably feel the same about not moving.