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Convicted sex offender's backyard has view of elementary school playground
Melissa made an important point last week that when it comes to sexual pretadors and our children, the people we most need to be worried about are the family, friends, and caregivers we trust our children with, not the nefarious strangers eager to pluck our innocent babies from their playgrounds. The statistics simply show that sexual predators are more likely to be someone the child knows and already trusts. Someone who can get them to keep secrets.Still, stories like this chill me. Partly because a few months before we moved from San Francisco we learned that a convicted child molester lived across the street from us and could see into our windows. Reader Christina in Richmond, Virginia wrote in to tell us about this convicted child molester Thomas Welcomb who lives in her neighborhood and who she sees riding his bike all over, and, get this: his backyard directly faces the playground of the local ementary school. Locals are in an uproar about it, but legally there's nothing they can do.
I believe these creeps should be given the chance to reform once they've served their sentences, but I also believe everything should be done to keep them away from children. With this guy, something tells me it was no mere coincidence that the home he bought or rented looked out over a playground. Hopefully the publicity will get the word out that kids should watch out for this guy.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2006 @ 1:20PM
Lori said...In most instances, I believe I have a liberal political and social world view. But, when it comes to child molesters, I really wish we could simply lock them up and throw away the key.
Reply
10-16-2006 @ 1:45PM
Ethel said...Um, J.D., they don't reform. Pedophiles are sexually aroused by children, that is why they are child molesters. You can't reform someones sexuality, once it is formed it just is.
Reply
10-16-2006 @ 2:17PM
ann adams said...At least they know exactly where he is and what he looks like.
According to the CA Megan's Law website, I have a predator living next door. He hasn't lived there for years; he's in the wind as are so many. The site shows at least 25 (maybe more) within a mile of the closest elementary school. Most of them haven't been at their given location for awhile. They fail to reregister and just drift away. Their photos are like most mug shots - unrecognizable. Law enforcement lacks the resources to track them.
It's sad but I think Ethel is right about the failure of rehabilitation in the vast number of child predator cases. The true predators, not an 18 year old with a 16 year old. There is a difference. It's scary to look at the map and realize how many are out there somewhere.
At least CA recently changed their law. Predators can no longer be dumped on an community that wasn't the site of their offense. Obviously we have enough of the home grown variety. We don't need any more.
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10-16-2006 @ 9:49PM
Luna said...In my are of Upstate NY they are bringing convicted Level 3 sex offenders from elsewhere to live here and wander around. Laws prohibit them from living with in a specific distance of schools, playgrounds, churches or daycares. they mostly live in an old hotel that has been zoned to house them or in the local psych center. This still doesn't make me feel any better about it, anyone who did anything like that to my children be dead plain and simple. I have no sympathy for them
Reply
10-17-2006 @ 9:10AM
Sandy said..."Protecting The Gift" by Gavin de Becker.
Go to your library's website *right now* and reserve this book. I am listening to an abridged version and reading the regular.
You will learn about predators and persuaders and how you can not only feel safe, but *be* safe. And your kids, too!
Go. Now. Reserve.
Reply
10-17-2006 @ 12:51PM
Jessica said...Second Ethel! Can NOT be changed. Statistically proven--only reform is removal of sexual arousal and we deem that cruel and unusual.
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10-17-2006 @ 3:05PM
dutch from sweet juniper [the author] said...y'all are confusing arousal for action; I'm not saying they can deny their sexual attraction to children, but I would like to believe that they can reform themselves by never ACTING on such desire again.
Reply