This is a big question, one that is being weighed across the country. States have a limited time to come into compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act and some are saying NO. Why?
Some states have no problem implementing the law at face value. After all protecting children is very important. Other states however have taken a hard look at the wording and intent of the law and weighed it against the cost and effectiveness.
Letter to the Editor
{The definition of fraud is – deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.}
As a member of the American public, what would you think if some of the political leaders you elected were committing fraud? How would you feel if the media promoted that fraud? How would you feel if law enforcement allowed this fraud to continue, even gaining money from it? Betrayed, that is how you should feel!
You may be thinking of something that happened in the past in Chicago or New York when criminals ran those cities. Or, perhaps you may be thinking of the former Soviet Union. Both are good examples, however in this case, neither apply. This fraud is being committed right here and now in the United States of America.
To understand this fraud we first need to understand the benefits.
As with most cases of fraud, money is involved, lots of money. This fraud is so great that companies across the country are benefiting. Beyond that, law enforcement is cashing in. However there is more than money to be gained, this fraud almost insures that a politician will be elected. Elected means power. So this fraud grants the offender power and money.
In any case of fraud someone must be defrauded and take a loss. In this case that loss is freedom, respect, safety, and even the opportunity for prosperity. In effect, the rights granted in the constitution are removed from the victims because of this fraud.
How extensive is this fraud? It is nationwide, and spreading to other countries. This is a huge case of fraud being perpetrated in full view of the public.
One after another the reports come in, another victim! How long will the public stand for it? Laws have been put in place to protect children and yet there are more and more victims.
From one part of the country to another it seems that these cases are not limited to one area. In the cities and in rural areas victims are beaten and a good number are murdered. This is occurring and law enforcement, legislators and the public are turning a blind eye.
Can we define the causes of these crimes? If we simply look at newspaper reports we can clearly see the cause; the cause is none other than the public sex offender registry.
The latest vigilante action to come across the internet is a case from Florida. A register Offender was walking his dog in his own front yard when he was attacked, beaten and his dog was killed. Those responsible had found his name and picture on the public hit list known as the Sex Offender Registry.
Was this an isolated case? Hardly. Here are a few interesting cases.
Michael Dodele had been free just 35 days when sheriff’s deputies found him dead from stab wounds last month in his mobile home. A neighbor was arrested for the murder. The neighbor had “told every house” that he had found Dodele’s name listed on the Sex Offender Registry. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/10/the_skinny/main3597422.shtml
Two released sex offenders who were on the Sex Offender Registry were murdered. A man is believed to have posed as an FBI officer, went to their apartment and shot them. Police said that the man spoke with three roommates and said he was as a member of the FBI and said he wanted to talk to them about their Level III sex offender status. http://www.talkleft.com/story/2005/08/29/340/52675
Dennis McCarthy was stabbed to death at his Holly Township home Sunday morning, just one week after release from prison. Police said, “We have strong suspicions that he was targeted” http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2009/08/murdered_sex_offender_released.html
Stephen A. Marshall shot and killed Joseph Gray. The victim had been dozing on a couch at his home in Milo, Maine. Five hours later, Marshall knocked on the door of William Elliot’s vinyl-sided mobile home in Corinth, 24 miles away. When Elliot appeared, the 20-year-old assassin fired at point-blank range. The murders were vigilante strikes against registered sex offenders who were strangers to Marshall and to each other. http://archive.guidemag.com/magcontent/invokemagcontent.cfm?ID=BF0FA813-7607-4666-B1F081D6A6C701CC
Registered Sex Offender Targeted – Investigators say two Scott County men took the law into their own hands. They admitted to setting a fire that killed an innocent woman. “It was vigilante justice,” said Scott County Sheriff Anthony Lay. “This is a prime example of how an innocent person has been fatally injured,” added Sheriff Lay. http://deaths-of-others.blogspot.com/2009/02/tn-reaction-to-vigilante-justice.html
These are but a minute sample of the vigilantly murders that are being carried out with the full knowledge of police departments across the country. I say full knowledge because any time you make it easy for vigilantes to target a group that they hate, the outcome is obvious. In this case murder. However beyond the murders of RFSO’s, there have been other vigilantly attacks such as these: