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Posted at 1:04 PM, Mar. 7, 2007
What You Need To Know
There is never a comfortable time or place to discuss what I am about to. However, I feel it is very much in need of attention, serious attention, from every member of society, not just those with children.
If you follow the Oprah Winfrey show, last month on February 21st was a showing called Inside an Abducted Child’s Mind. To view the story click on below:
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2/21/07
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What makes this particular show so critical is that it challenges us all to take action by writing our Federal and State Government about changing the laws that currently are far too lenient on sexual predators. We need to bring this issue out from behind closed doors and make a united stand to protect our nation’s children. Damaged children grow up to be damaged adults. The list is endless when it comes to the emotional, physical and psychological effects sexual acts have on children. Some will be lucky enough to recover and move on, others will harvest a cancer of their spirit that impacts themselves and the world around them. These are the children that will become our future workers, employers, teachers, spouses, parents, and yes, in some cases, future predators. If that isn’t motivation enough, I can’t imagine what is. Here is an excerpt from the show with some compelling facts:
Ernie Allen is the co-founder and president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Since the center opened in 1984, it has helped recover more than 110,000 children.
· Of the more than 600,000 convicted and registered sex offenders living in the United States, 100,000 are missing.
· California is the state with the highest number of registered sex offenders at 109,000. Second is Texas, with 50,000. Ranking third is Michigan, with 40,000.
· Only 1 in 3 sexual offenses against children are ever reported.
· 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized in some way in the United States before they turn 18.
· Forty to 50 percent of those who victimize girls are family members, but only 10 to 20 percent of those who victimize boys are in the family.
· Ernie says this country suffers from a sense of denial when it comes to crimes against children, and that two laws need to be changed now.
Every single offender needs to be registered and law enforcement needs better tracking systems, Ernie says. Currently, Ernie says there are 31 states where failure to register is a mere misdemeanor. "These guys move around, and they take advantage of the inadequacies of the laws," Ernie says. "We know that these kinds of offenders represent the highest risk of reoffense. So at a minimum, we need to know where they are."
Every single offender needs to be registered and law enforcement needs better tracking systems, Ernie says. Currently, Ernie says there are 31 states where failure to register is a mere misdemeanor. "These guys move around, and they take advantage of the inadequacies of the laws," Ernie says. "We know that these kinds of offenders represent the highest risk of reoffense. So at a minimum, we need to know where they are."
You can start protecting your children today by simply writing a letter urging your congressman and governor to fully fund something called the Adam Walsh Act, named for the slain son of America's Most Wanted host John Walsh. "There is nothing that's a higher priority for America's moms and dads," Ernie says. "This is homeland security."
The legislation, just passed in Congress, makes it a federal felony when a convicted sex offender fails to register. It also creates a national website and database of these offenders, and charges marshals with tracking offenders. The Adam Walsh Act also makes it mandatory for each state to have consistent and uniform laws.
The legislation, just passed in Congress, makes it a federal felony when a convicted sex offender fails to register. It also creates a national website and database of these offenders, and charges marshals with tracking offenders. The Adam Walsh Act also makes it mandatory for each state to have consistent and uniform laws.
Here’s How You Can Make a Difference
First go to the Congress site and type in your 5-digit zip code. You will receive results from both federal and state representatives. First choose Federal and select your U.S. Representatives. Check all that have public email, then copy and paste the email below in the text box with the subject heading and send! You will also be prompted to pick an issue: Choose first Children/Families and second prompt add Crime/Police. Repeat the same for State Representatives. It’s that easy.
SUBJECT MATTER: ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION ACT
Dear Senator and Fellow Congressmen:
As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your colleagues to act swiftly to fully fund the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act must be funded now so that law enforcement can protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders:
I urge you to fully fund all of the mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:
1. To implement an effective and comprehensive national registry database and website of sex offenders.
2. To build capacity in the federal law enforcement system to enable law enforcement to track and capture noncompliant sex offenders and bring them to justice.
3. To implement a national DNA database so that law enforcement can accurately and promptly verify DNA evidence.
Citizens must have access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government must be afforded adequate resources to build and maintain an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not funded, the danger to children is heightened. When information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders is not accessible, accurate and verifiable, our communities are at grave risk.
I strongly urge you to act now to fund the mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.
Now do the same for the Governor:
SUBJECT MATTER: ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION ACT
Dear Governor Blagojevich:
As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your appropriate state agencies to act swiftly to implement the state requirements under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Although the Adam Walsh Act provided that states have three years to comply with the requirements, delay in implementing these changes will jeopardize the safety of children and the community. Law enforcement needs the resources to protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders:
I urge you to fully implement all the state mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:
1. To implement an effective and comprehensive mechanism to verify the residence of the most high-risk sex offenders at least once every three months.
2. To collect DNA samples from sex offenders who have not already provided them to local law enforcement.
3. To complete fingerprint-based background checks on all foster and adoptive placements to ensure that foster children are placed in safe homes.
Citizens need access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government are responsible for building and maintaining an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not implemented, the danger to children is heightened. The states are at the forefront to provide reliable information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. That information needs to be accessible, accurate and verifiable, or our communities are at grave risk.
I strongly urge you to act now to implement the state-directed mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.
By doing your part, we can help bring a long overdue change. Thank you.
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