HAPPY HOLI-DAZE

U.S. MARSHALLS TO SPREAD FEAR INSTEAD OF CHEER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

December, 2006

According to this article, reported in the California Times Herald: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/opinion/ci_4857287

U.S. Marshall’s and California Law Enforcement Officials will be knocking on doors this Christmas. The latest in a trend of "sweeps" targeting sex offenders. Or should I say, "ex" sex offenders. The reason for the "sweep" is to round up individuals who have failed NOT to register, BUT that have failed to register PROPERLY!

Under the new Adam Walsh Act passed earlier this year in congress, former sex offender’s have an additional list of requirements to follow above and beyond notifying Law Enforcement of their home and work addresses. The list of technical changes is lengthy. If a former offender fails to meet any one of the new requirements he or she may be sentenced to up to ten years in prison. I’m sure glad they’re saving room in our prisons for the really violent offenders! This is suppose to make me feel safe?

The new law makes no distinction as to the level of dangerousness of the offender or how much time has passed since the registerable offense occurred. Even those convicted decades ago of consensual sex will be rounded up. Even some children will undoubtedly be swept up this season who have been convicted of playing doctor (ie. sex crimes) or rubbing up against another child in an inappropriate manner.

Hundreds if not thousands of families will be torn apart this season with some members being hauled off in handcuffs for their sins of the past. Neighbors will pour out of their homes to witness this new form of nazi justice. Many, in full Christmas Spirit, will even cheer as these people are lead away. Yes, it will be a Christmas to remember for many.

Dubbed "Operation Safe Neighborhoods" the sweep has already resulted in 14 arrests. These individuals are not wanted for, nor suspected of, committing a new sex crime. Their only crime is being ignorant of the Adam Walsh Act’s sweeping changes. Obviously law enforcement and the public eat this sort of tyranny up. Nothing is too harsh for those damned sex offenders.

The government wants us all to believe that "all these sex offenders/predators" are dangerous" and that they are doing this to protect us and, of course, our children.

Never mind that the re-offense rate for sex offenders is so low that it is second only to murder. Never mind that some of these offenders ARE children.Never mind that there is no 24 hour news channel dedicated to covering all the stories of sex offenders committing new sex crimes. Seeing as though there are approximately 600,000 registered sex offenders in this country you’d think there would be such a channel. The only reason there isn’t is because these people, 95% of them anyway, pose absolutely no threat to society whatsoever. They will NOT re-offend. Many were criminally charged with things that lots of us are guilty of doing at some point in our lives. Like playing doctor or having sex with your high school sweetheart in the back of your Dad’s car. These people are not a threat to you or me. No, the REAL threat comes from those who have never been caught and or convicted of a sex crime. Like a brother, a cousin, a grandparent or someone your child already knows. Someone who’s own childhood was so skewed that they either don’t realize what they’re doing is wrong or they simply don’t care. There is and always has been the threat of a stranger abducting your child and murdering them, but statistically, your child has a far better chance of being struck by lightning.

Perhaps the U.S. Marshall’s Office should change the name of their sweep to "Operation Put on A Good Show For the Public". Because the last thing it is going to do is make anyone any safer. Yep, it will be a Christmas to remember and what better time to do it than on the anniverary of the birth of the ONE who died for ALL of our sins. I didn’t hear the part that this excluded sins of a sexual nature, did you?