A U.S. Department of Justice study shows that 97% + of new sex crimes against minors are committed by family, friends and acquaintances of minors (see chart below). Think carefully, avoiding homes of former sex offenders causes you to place your child at the very homes of people who are MOST LIKELY to commit a sex offense with a child, family, friends and acquaintances.
Parents, is relying on a myth or fear mongers GOOD for your child, does it really PROTECT your child? Our advice is, ignore myths and fear mongers that TWIST or HIDE the truth about safety, accompany your child and enjoy Halloween as it should be enjoyed.
eAdvocate
10-15-2009 Indiana:
She wants to protect your kids from saying "Trick or Treat" at the wrong house. An Elkhart mother is teaming up with Indiana State Representative Jackie Walorski to try to make it illegal for sex offenders to participate in Halloween festivities.
Given what the Dep't of Justice has proved, as to who is most likely to commit a sex offense with a minor, "the wrong house" is more likely homes where former sex offenders DO NOT LIVE!
"Fright for Your Right" is the name Elkhart mom Melody Blessing coined for the bill. It would be modeled after a Michigan law that would prevent sex offenders from handing out candy or having Halloween decorations that may lure kids onto their property.
"Trick or Treat." Three short words kids can't wait to say on Halloween. But Elkhart mom Melody Blessing was afraid of her son saying that phrase at the wrong house last year.
"My son was about to go over and get candy and I was like no I don't want my son to go there," said Elkhart mom Melody Blessing.
Blessing says her son was walking over to a registered sex offender's home in her neighborhood while trick or treating.
"I just don't think they should be allowed to pass out candy to kids," said Blessing.
And neither does Indiana State Representative Jackie Walorski.
It is quite clear this Rep. is not basing her decision on evidence. Clearly this Rep. has not read Dr. Levenson's latest study showing that, over a 9-year period and millions of crimes, there have not been any halloween crimes related to trick and treating, anywhere in the nation. That includes homes of former sex offenders.
"When people today call the police and rightly so the police are going to tell you that there's nothing on the books that could prohibit them from allowing kids to go on to that property," said Indiana State Representative Jackie Walorski.
Blessing hopes to change that by presenting a petition signed by concerned parents to lobby to lawmakers for a bill prohibiting sex offenders from participating in Halloween festivities. Walorski's been down this path before after authoring a similar bill a few years ago.
"It was not going to allow sex offenders to advertise they're not going to be able to be involved and have kids come to the door and bringing intentionally vulnerable kids into a predator's property," said Walorski.
That bill did not make it out of the House. But Walorski and Blessing hope that with public opinion the bill will have more weight this time around and will be passed into law.
"I believe there are a lot of parents out there like me that would feel very strongly about this," said Blessing.
Blessing admits that some may say she's unfairly targeting sex offenders who've served their time, but she says she's more concerned about her children.
"It's me as a mom worrying about the safety of my kids," said Blessing.
Walorski says with enough public support she would be willing to re-file the bill in the state legislature. ..Source.. by Nadia Crow
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