Protecting our children

Today, there are more than 550,000 sex offenders who are supposed to be registered in the U.S.; however, it's believed that 100,000 of these offenders are ‘lost.’

Each time another story of child molestation hits the news, more dads to take closer looks at their neighbors and more moms to cling to their kids when outside the home. Most of us still feel a little helpless, thinking there is surely more we can do to rescue our children from this insidious threat.

There is, indeed.
The Child Safety Act of 2005 (also known in the U.S. House of Representatives as HR 3132) demands a nationwide crackdown on sex offenders. It calls for tougher penalties for the criminals, better cooperation between law enforcement agencies and improved public access to sex offender databases.

Like other bills and referendums that go before the House of Representatives, the Child Safety Act will surely be put to the test, debated and questioned. When HR 3132 goes before the House in September 2005, will your representative know how you feel about it?

We are empowered to stop sex offenders from re-offending. It’s as simple as flooding our representatives’ mailboxes with one clear, united message: our children deserve to be protected.

Here’s a sample letter you can copy and send, via email or postal mail to your representative (representatives’ names and contact information are available at www.house.gov).

Dear _________________ ,

I am writing to ask you to vote for HR 3132, the bi-partisan Child Safety Act of 2005. As your constituent, and as a citizen concerned about sex offenders living in my community and in communities across America, I believe it is time we stand up to truly protect our children.

This bill will close the loopholes in existing sex offender registry laws, which too often allow convicted sexual predators to elude law enforcement while continuing to prey upon children. As we have seen in far too many recent news stories, these gaps are killing our children. This must stop – now!

Among other things, HR 3132 will make failure to register or to keep that registration current a federal crime. It will create a comprehensive, national system for sex offender registration and increase the time period a sexual offender of children must register from the current 10 years to life. In addition, misdemeanor sex offenders of children will be required to register for 20 years.

One of the 100,000 ‘lost’ sex offenders could be living on my block and targeting my child – and neither I nor my local police have any way of knowing. That’s unacceptable. I'm counting on you to support HR 3132, the Child Safety Act of 2005.

Talk with your kids
Never underestimate the power of knowledge. When you talk openly with children about safety issues and teach them appropriate responses, you empower them with the assurance that they’ll be able to make good choices in the face of potential dangers. For a sample listing of discussion questions, visit www.thesafeside.com.

Options :: View Archives