Well, I don't know about you all, but I think this is a very good site to have access to. It is very easy to use, and gives alot of information. Just plug in your address and zip code, and up will come all the registred sex offenders near you. If you live in the city, you will be amazed how many there are, and how close to you they are!

http://www.familywatchdog.us/

Having seen both sides of this issue as I have a friend who's son is on one of these lists that I know of this really is something that I believe that has taken a life of its own and been turned upside down and has gone way to far due to fear and misunderstanding.

All need to take a far more realistic study of this issue and realize that not is all well with a lot of the problems not being delt here.

Liane, the Zoo Mama

I'm not sure I am understanding what you are saying, here, Liane. I am sure that the list is not perfect and that there are a few on the list, who should not be there, but, at the same time, I think the vast majority of those on the list deserve to be there and it gives the rest of society a little warning, as imperfect as it may be.

Dear Sister Tammy:

I speak from a personal experience of not only being a victim of incest and rape, but as one who knows a young man who's life has been made worse by this list.

My friend's son committed incest with his niece four years ago. He served five months in jail and is in his last year of probation, but he is on this list and a few others.

He did a terrible thing to his niece, but that does not warrant him being on this list or any other.

This list and others should be for the most severe and long standing men and women that warrant such a list, but for a far more this has gone way to far due to false information, fear and mob attitude.

I have seen this young man suffer way beyond what he sould be suffering. He feared telling me what had happened because of my own background, but one day he just could not hold it in anymore.

Even his mother who I have known for years was afraid to tell me, but is relieved that I know and give support to him in whatever way I can. He surely needs it.

Even the court did not feel his crime was of a magnatude to warrant being on these lists, but because of the rage and poor writing of this law we have made it a one for all and all for one that is unfair and destructive.

These list do not last for one year, five years, but for the life of the offender. For some that may be necessary, but for a vast majority it is not.

Even the ACLU will not try to fight it because the panic and passion is so great that nothing can be done to fix it. Someday they will try, but for now they were kind enough to give information that might help, but then that takes money and money is not what he has because he cannot find a job. He lives with his mom and does the best that he can.

There are always two sides to an event, to be fair and Christian we need to see both sides and make right this wrong for all.

Liane, the Zoo Mama

Hi Cheri and Liane,
I hope you both have had a really nice Sabbath. God is so good!

I hate to, but I have to disagree with you all on this one. I realize there are cases where someone, let's say a 19 year old boy gets a 17 year old girl pregnant, and her parents are furious...and he ends up on this list. I feel really bad for him. It is very unfortunate.

But at the same time, I believe that people who commit these crimes, should be on this list. In some countries, when a person is caught stealing, they cut off their hand. Everyone else takes note, they hopefully learn a lesson from that person loosing their hand, and they also know something about that person.

If I was looking to purchase a home, I would use this list. I don't want to live next door to someone who is a rapist or some other pervert. To me, I see this list as a lock on your house. Some say, "Just have faith, you don't need to lock your house, the Lord will protect you." Well, I believe, the Lord helps those who help themselves. I believe in locking my door and doing all I can do to be safe, and then I leave the rest up to Him. Our world is getting worse by the day...having a list like this, who knows how many lives it has already saved?

It is sad, when people like I mentioned get put on the list...I feel real bad about that. But, nothing is perfect in this world...we have to work within the imperfect system we have.

As to someone being on the list who committed incest, well, there are consequences for sin. We pay for our sins. Some people pay more than others... These kind of crimes have become so rampant in this Country, that something needs to be done to protect the innocent. Who should we feel more sorry for, the attacker or the attacked? And we all know, it is a prove fact that most people committing sex crimes, are repeat, repeat, repeat offenders.

Tammy

Dear Sister Tammy:

It may come to a point that one may not be able to find anyplace to live if they are going to depend on a list to tell them where they should live.

There is no other crime in the United States that does that. One can be living next to a murderer and never know, a thief, should we have a list for them as well?

Why not let them out at all? Then we would have more in prison than out and then we will complain about all the money it takes to house them.

Just because some other country cuts the hand off does that mean it is good or right to do?

I may not have all of it right, but I know as a victim that I should have more to say about it than some fear minded mother who might be feeding on the panic and misinformation circle.

This list thing has gone way to far and is not just. There is no question that maybe some should be on the list.

As for there being more of these types of crimes, no dear Sister, there are not more, there just is a more awarness of them. Just as many incests happened when I was a child as it does today.

The difference was that everyone kept it under the table and never spoke of it.

Liane, the Zoo Mama

Dear Sisters,

I am a victim of abuse. I do not want my abusers on that list for their sin to be public knowledge. I do not want them mistreated in any manner. Here is a verse to share what our Lord teaches:

quote:

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Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

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That list is not a lock of protection. Someone right in the family that you trust could be the worse offender. And I agree with Sr. Liane it is just more public knowledge about these type of sins.

Your Sister in Christ Jesus,
Cheri Fritz

I believe that certain scenarios should be excused from this list....like the situations mentioned in previous posts.
At the same time, I am glad there IS such a list. Here's why. I know that some people are genuinely remorseful for committing these crimes. I truly feel sorry for those who are repentant, yet still have to register.
At the same time, there are those who, when they come up for parole, say all the right things to APPEAR remorseful, yet in their hearts, deny having done anything wrong. Once they get paroled, they deny, deny, deny having done anything wrong, even going so far as to try to have the verdict overturned. How do I know this? My cousin is a convicted sex offender. She molested two little girls. She admitted to it one moment, and denied it the next. She is also a habitual liar. My cousin has to register for the rest of her life. I am actually glad she does because she refuses to acknowledge what she has done!

Incidently, about that list? A sex offender has to register, that's true. BUT, depending on the severity of the crime, they may register for 15 years, 20 years, or life. The less severe the crime, the smaller the amount of time he/she has to register.

Thank you for the added information, Stephanie...

The head of a NYT article today:


Iowa's Residency Rules Drive Sex Offenders Underground
By MONICA DAVEY
Restrictions on where sex offenders can live have rendered some of them homeless, and many have simply vanished from sight.

quote:

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While some of the Iowa's largest cities, like Des Moines, have become virtually off limits for those convicted of sex crimes involving children, the new rules have pushed many to live in groups away from their families, in places like the Ced-Rel, or the Red Carpet Inn in nearby Bouton, where nine offenders rent rooms.

Michele Costigan, whose driveway is right across Highway 30 from the Ced-Rel in this rural stretch just outside Cedar Rapids, said she had stopped leaving any of her four children at home alone, had told them to dial 911 if anyone they did not recognize pulled into the family driveway, and was considering moving.

"If the point of his law was to make us safer, we are not," Ms. Costigan said.

Even more worrisome to law enforcement officials in Iowa, the restrictions appear to be leading some offenders to slip out of sight.

Of the more than 6,000 people on Iowa's registry of sex offenders, 400 are now listed as "whereabouts unconfirmed" or living in "non-structure locations" (like tents, parking lots or rest areas). Last summer, the number was 140.

"When it comes down to it, we would rather know where these people are living than to have the restriction," said Deputy Vrotsos. He said that he devoted at least 20 hours extra a week, along with the work of two clerks, to administering the new state law.

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That is why we ought to deal harshly with these sex offenders - put them in jail for life or worse. Everything I read says that they never change...they never can be trusted again. So why do we put them back out in society, to do it all over again? (I'm not talking about the 18 year old boy and the 16 year old girlfriend.) Our laws encourage it to keep happening... I'm for much stricter laws.

You're absolutely right, Tammy. I checked for my zip code on another one that is just for Michigan, and I was amazed that there is one about a mile and a half from my home, but more specifically, about a half mile from my son's school. I wrote to the school and insisted that he NEVER be allowed to walk home from school. It really is scary how close they can be...

I have visited the "National Sex Registry", what disturbs me about it, is they list not just vicious sex offenders, but other criminals that are not sex offenders.
Here in Michigan, the age of consent is 16 for girls, and 18 for boys(guess we know who matures more quickly).
If an individual disobeys a law, they should be punished, if they pay, watch them and if they do not do it again, leave them alone.
I know of a young man that at the age of 17, was at a party, met a young lady that said she was 18 and had ID to prove it, she performed a consentual act, and he was arrested because she was only 13, who was in the wrong?
He will be on the National Registry for the rest of his life, no chance to get off, is this fair?
Personally, if a convicted child molester does it more than once, they should get life in the electric chair.
Same with any sex offender., The biggest problem? How do you know if they did it as it was reported?

Gerry you bring up a good point. A person can get on that list for many different infractions. Urinating in public can get you on that list. And while it may be a stupid thing to do should that person be lumped in with violent child molesters?

And where is the National Murderer Registry? Or the National Got Drunk and Killed Someone with My Car Registry? Are young people having underage sex worse than the person who killed someone with their car? I think not.

Redfog

Hello Brothers & Sisters,
God's people should all anticipate that they will be treated as sex offenders, subversives and 'terrorists', our generation's word for 'heretic'. We should expect to be accused of the most heinous crimes against society and government, against law and order. When our voices are raised to protest, our activities (are) will be monitored and we will be tracked and spied upon, just as were the Jews in 1930s Germany, just as with the 'brown-skinned' of Canada and U.S.A. today. Should God's people fear sex offenders? Would we put Mary Magdalene 'in jail for life or worse' ? Do we have Scriptural evidence that sinners never change? Certainly the governments want their citizens to become informers. This happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the locals were paid to turn over taxi drivers, merchants and students who ended up in Guantanamo Bay and other torture camps. What does Jesus think of all this? Are we who claim to be God's messengers guilty of the suicide deaths in Guantanamo because we did not raise our voice to protest torture by our allies? Are we responsible for the sexual offences that take place today - rape, paedophilia, fornication, adultery, homosexuality?

Seventh day Adventists must realize that they have been given a more sure word of prophecy. The Spirit of AntiChrist as manifested in the Roman Catholic Church lies at the root of these many ills. The celibacy of the RC priesthood and the filthy questions and seductions of the confessional box have spawned the immorality of today. None have escaped its influence and only by the grace of God and the holy blood offered by our Mediator at the throne can we be cleansed from all unrighteousness and evil thoughts. Documentation of the priestly influence can be found in Chiniquy's "Fifty Years in the Church of Rome" & "The Priest, the Woman & the Confessional".

Do we as a people dress and act modestly, or do we lay a snare for our children by following the fashions of the world? Did Jesus wear shorts and a T-shirt? One father of a young brood recently commented that he fears to bring his children to the supermarket for the pornography on display. He was referring not only to the general audience magazines but to the cashiers who bared their flesh for all. If we feel our families are in physical danger, we should shield and remove them from the threat. But the greatest threats are spiritual, the effects upon the mind. Jesus said "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28. I can see no direction in the Word or Spirit of Prophecy to send my children away into the world, even to have school lessons before the age of ten. We have despised the counsels of all knowing and compassionate God and many have sacrificed their children to Molech. This will cease amongst God's people. God will convict of sin and His people will repent. Others will be shaken out. We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. There must be a final generation.

Am I on Jehovah's Global Sex Offender Registry? What reads the "Ledger of Heaven" ? This should be our real concern. Am I born again, or am I overcome by lustful thoughts? Am I a student of righteousness or just a professor of religion. "Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every other sin." - The Judgment, Testimony Vol. 4, 384.

Perhaps we avoid those labelled "Sex Offenders" with good cause. But are we any different? Will they enter heaven before us? Did they have the light? Can we judge them because a zealous constable needed to fill a quota? Who did Jesus command us to visit in prison? If we are living in fear of man we cannot be serving our Creator.

'The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.' Psalm 34:7