Protecting Our Kids
By now, everyone is aware that pedophiles are active all over the world and that computers, inexpensive software, the internet and accommodating governments make it possible to spread their wares and snatch up new victims.
In New Jersey, a contractor has been indicted on hundreds of counts of molesting a large number of children and of not only downloading child pornography, but of making and distributing it. Parents everywhere must be wondering how this could happen and, indeed, when I read about it, I asked myself this same question.
We live in an age where it is difficult not to feel anxious when our kids leave their home to go to school, play activities or even remain in the home when workers come in. If we were anxious before, this hasn't helped matters any.
I have a suggestion for a beginning we might all think about. The idea came to me when I was looking for items to add my website's self-help page and I was searching for information on registries of child molesters and for ways to protect kids.
What would be the problem with a national database for anyone who works with kids? I was initially thinking only of those individuals who work in the area of sports activities such as coaches. Canada has such a database, I believe, but it applies only to coaches for ice skaters.
Pedophiles are very nice people. You'd gladly let them into your home, send your kids off to soccer with them or wave good-bye as they hopped into a van for a sleepover in the woods. I've never met a pedophile who wasn't neat, clean, polite and, seemingly, the type of person you could trust anywhere and with anyone. These are their most potent tools. The problem is that when they are caught and prosecuted in one area, they move to another feeding area and begin their crimes anew.
A national voluntary database of coaches (to begin with) would be a beginning to help with some of this anxiety. I know that some people will say this won't solve the problem and I agree, it won't, but it's a start.
Related Topics: Protecting Your Child From Sex Abuse, Child Sex Abuse Affects Both Genders Long Term
Technorati Tags: sexual abuse, anxiety, database registry
In New Jersey, a contractor has been indicted on hundreds of counts of molesting a large number of children and of not only downloading child pornography, but of making and distributing it. Parents everywhere must be wondering how this could happen and, indeed, when I read about it, I asked myself this same question.
We live in an age where it is difficult not to feel anxious when our kids leave their home to go to school, play activities or even remain in the home when workers come in. If we were anxious before, this hasn't helped matters any.
I have a suggestion for a beginning we might all think about. The idea came to me when I was looking for items to add my website's self-help page and I was searching for information on registries of child molesters and for ways to protect kids.
What would be the problem with a national database for anyone who works with kids? I was initially thinking only of those individuals who work in the area of sports activities such as coaches. Canada has such a database, I believe, but it applies only to coaches for ice skaters.
Pedophiles are very nice people. You'd gladly let them into your home, send your kids off to soccer with them or wave good-bye as they hopped into a van for a sleepover in the woods. I've never met a pedophile who wasn't neat, clean, polite and, seemingly, the type of person you could trust anywhere and with anyone. These are their most potent tools. The problem is that when they are caught and prosecuted in one area, they move to another feeding area and begin their crimes anew.
A national voluntary database of coaches (to begin with) would be a beginning to help with some of this anxiety. I know that some people will say this won't solve the problem and I agree, it won't, but it's a start.
Related Topics: Protecting Your Child From Sex Abuse, Child Sex Abuse Affects Both Genders Long Term
Technorati Tags: sexual abuse, anxiety, database registry
7 Comments:
Well, if we started with coaches, where would it end? We'd certainly have to include priests and all religious instructors/volunteers; teachers, school personnel and school volunteers; mental health workers, doctors, nurses, other health personnel; organization leaders and volunteers (Boy/Girl clubs); private instructors (karate, dance, music etc)... and the list would go on and on and be changing continually.
Do you think that child molestation is more prevalent now or that it is more readily talked about now and therefore more often reported? If you think it is more prevalent now, what do you think influences it? Is it nature or nurture in its origin, do you think?
~Tasker
What a great idea. My daughter just started school and it's hard to send her off into the world everyday. Anything we can do as parents to keep them safe is worth doing!
I don't think it is more prevalent, only that we're more aware of it and encourae children not to be afraid to tell us.
I think we need to start somewhere, though, with keeping tabs on these people. It's quite similar with physicians who may abuse patients and then move somewhere else and no one knows about their past. I was told a story like this many years ago in my internship.
There's no doubt that pedophilia is a terrible thing and that children must be protected. Having said that, I think I might be a pedophile and it is virtually impossible to get constructive help to cure or manage these feelings. Most people just want to throw you in jail and throw away the key. In the long term, these methods of handling pedophiles will not cure or prevent the problem. Why is this illness not treated like any other socialogical illness, like alcoholism, physical abuse of spouses and children, etc.
I find it telling that not even MDs can speak rationally about adult-child sex. What we need to do is engage in a serious dialogue about child sexuality and the various factors that influence that. We need the courage to ask real questions about intergenerational relationships: does sex really harm children or is it the hysterical reaction when society finds out a child is sexually active? Once we're brave enough to take that step, I think we'll see a breath through in the study of child sex abuse.
At what stage is a child a child and when is it acceptable for a 'child' to have sex?
Is that your question, sir?
A four year old is NOT, it is as simple as that and anybody even questioning that is sick and should be locked up!
I have to agree that there is virtually no constructive help to find, cure or manage pedophiles uncontrolled sexual fantasies and urges before something happens and that most people just want to throw them in jail and throw away the key. What can we do to prevent the acting out of these urges on our children? How can we ID and treat before the harm is done? Wen need a fresh look at this problem. Got Idea??
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