Champions of Inhumanity: Whose rights are preserved?

According to http://www.safechild.org/research.htm

“For too many children, child abuse is what they know every day of their lives.”

• Over 2.9 million cases of child abuse were reported last year in this country (NCPCA) (see research section for all citations).

• Approximately 1/3 of sexual abuse cases involve children 6 years of age or younger (National Incidence Study, 1988).

• One in every four girls and one in every six boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18 (Kinsey, Finkelhor).

• Eighty-five to 90% of sexual abuse happens with a person known to the child (Russell).

According to Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org), “three  out of four sex offenders do not re-offend within 15 years of release from prison.” This by default means that one in four sex offenders does re-offend within 15 years. Out of 2.9 Million twenty five percent is 725,000. What does this mean? It means that by allowing rapists to return to their original lives we are allowing 750,000 people to suffer sexual abuse. 

Tell me, as a nation do we not enjoy bragging that we are the beacon of hope to all the world? As a nation we brag that we give equal rights to all. Who is watching over the rights of the children? One in four is twenty five percent. Do we really want these predators near our schools? 

True, 90% of sexual child abuse is perpetrated by individuals who at least casually know the victim. Therefore, residency laws for sexual predators can not completely solve the problem. However, this by no means justifies ignoring the smaller minority. It justifies both residency laws and further steps in child abuse prevention. Personally I believe that sexual predators who have committed felonies, should be kept away from prospective targets. The laws should be strict. 

And what of teenage sex? One source of controversy within Georgia was has been the fact that many believed the laws would cause teenage lovers to instantly become felons. However, this is a myth. According to Georgia State House Bill 1059, within the “Romeo and Juliet” (not kidding here) “ For the crimes of,Statutory Rape,Child Molestation, and,Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes, If the victim is at least 14, but under 16, the defendant is under 18 and there is no more than a 4 year age difference, Then the punishment will be for a misdemeanor.” Therefore, the sexual predators mentioned above are not teenage lovers. 

The evidence is clear and concise. The laws are not targeting teenagers. they are targeting sexual predators. These predators have a statistically significant possibility of repeating their crimes. One way to thwart these endeavors is to keep them away for their victims. It may not be the only way, but it exponentially more effective than simply turning a blind eye to statistical evidence.