Submitted by Kyle Sandusky, Mar 12, 2007 16:24

Mr. Stern said there "is substantial anecdotal and statistical evidence of recidivism by sex offenders" but offers not a shred of proof. In place of this, he draws from a tragic case of an offender who was absconding from authorities and makes the obscure conclusion every one of the 500,000 plus sex offenders nationally are a John Couey waiting to happen. People like Couey and Duncan only represent a small fraction of people who are on the Sex Offender Registry and they should be confined, there is no debate on this point.

The simple fact is that children are 80 percent more likely to be abused by a family member, a friend of the family, a clergy member, teacher, coach or someone trusted by the child, than by a stranger. Their abuser is 95 percent more likely to be someone who is NOT a Registered Offender. By focusing our children's fears on imaginary dangers, we are leading them to believe real dangers cannot hurt them. How is this making children safer?

A recent FBI report stated the problems with media myths and fear-mongering politicians; however, it seems that corporate profits and Neilsen Ratings are more important in the boardrooms and management offices of today media outlets, than the safety of children.

The media and politicians continue their misguided concept of interchangeably using words like "sex offender", "child molester", "pedophile", and "predator". Because of this confusion, children are less safe.

A "sex offender "can be anyone who committed an offense, that state and now some federal laws, determine to be "sexual in nature". This includes, urinating in public, mooning someone, consensual sex between teen-agers, etc.

A "child molester" label is, in most states, now given to anyone who has sexual contact or has a sexual advance toward a person under 18, even teen-age consensual sex. In other words, a 17-year-old boy, who has sex with a 15-year-old girl is now charged and labeled a "child molester".

A "pedophile" is someone who is attracted to a pre-pubescent child. Someone who has an attraction to a teen-ager is an Ephebophile, and it is not considered the same as pedophilia, by psychologists, unless it interferes with attraction to adults. Labeling all sex offenders as a "pedophile" misleads parents, and society; making children are less safe.

A true "predator" is someone who obtains or tries to obtain, sexual contact with another person, in a metaphorically predatory manner. Former Congressman Mark Foley's actions could be described as "predatory". Nevertheless, it would be very inaccurate to describe him as a "sexually violent predator". When we ascribe "predator" and "sexual violent predator" to all forms of sexual abuse, we dilute their meaning, rendering the terms meaningless, again, we are making children less safe.

Why would the media and politicians do this?

Follow the money trail, look at voting records and it will lead people with the most average of intelligence, to the same conclusion we draw here.

FEAR SELLS. APPEARING TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME GETS VOTES.

Here is the REALITY of the matter. NOT ALL SEX OFFENDERS ARE PEDOPHILES OR PREDATORS. Only informed and rational parents can insure their children are truly safe, not the media, and certainly not the politicians.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.