Megan's Law

Fergie · 10 Apr 2007 at 13:52

Today's story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6540749.stm

Seems like a good idea to me, I havn't got kids, but when I do I would deffinetly like to know if there were any paedophiles living near me.

Also there's an article about the history of Megan's law.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5091800.stm

Look right at the end..

Sex offenders in Oregon can be forced to display a sign in their windows.

Some believe that Megan's Law does not go far enough and several states are investigating the use of, or have already introduced, chemical or surgical castration for certain sexual offenders.

Cut their **** off!!!!

SunaseIPs · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:00

Fergie said:
Cut their **** off!!!!

Won't get far with Myra hindley.

chimaera · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:02

Some believe that Megan's Law does not go far enough and several states are investigating the use of, or have already introduced, chemical or surgical castration for certain sexual offenders.

I'm all for helping kids and parents be more aware of who's living next door to them, but this is a disgrace.

It will be a sad day for mankind when forced multilation becomes an acceptable punishment.

I'd be interested to see if this test works and if there are any vigilantes roaming about. Of course it helps that they trial this out in a very affluent area, when you try it out in an area known to house violent thugs and it doesn't result in problems then i'll be happy.

Rich_L · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:03

TBH all I see this law doing is promoting an atmosphere of fear, how is it beneficial for parents to know a paedophile is 'in the area' - is it going to end up with people afraid to let their children outside?

I think the idea of allowing single parents to check whether a new partner is a sex offender is a good idea though.

Messiah Khan · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:03

Im not to convinced by this law tbh. If you go with the American law, then fair enough you know who and where the peadophiles are, but then you are prone to vigilante attacks. If however you go with this uk law, you don't know who they are, or even exactly where they are, you'll simply know that there are peadophiles in the area. What good does this do other than breed suspision and fear. Its not going to make a parent anymore carefull, as surely they should already teach their kids about being cerefull and not talking to strangers etc.

a1ex2001 · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:05

Fergie said:
Cut their **** off!!!!

If we are to accept that peadophilia is a sexual preference for Children in the same way Hetrosexual people like members of the oposite sex etc. Then castration is the only valid option as it should remove the sexual desires of the subject as there is no hope of rehabilitation as the offender does not choose to be this way.

semi-pro waster · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:05

I'll bite, what makes you think it is a good idea? Given that many paedophiles will 'go underground' if they are named and shamed, so to speak. I'd guess it will just encourage suspicion of neighbours, particularly if families are informed that a paedophile has just moved into the area but aren't told who it is. It isn't like there haven't already been instances where vigilanteism has led to the wrong person being targetted.

cleanbluesky · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:07

chimaera said:
It will be a sad day for mankind when forced multilation becomes an acceptable punishment.

Sad day? It's been practiced for ritual, religion and punishment for thousands of years...

Besides, its proposed use would be as a precaution against reoffending rather than a punishment.

Fergie · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:08

a1ex2001 said:
If we are to accept that peadophilia is a sexual preference for Children in the same way Hetrosexual people like members of the oposite sex etc. Then castration is the only valid option as it should remove the sexual desires of the subject as there is no hope of rehabilitation as the offender does not choose to be this way.

Just to be clear to everyone, that was a joke, I do not condone the forced castration of paedophiles.

I do agree with the principle, but thinking about it if you already lived somewhere and you found out a paedophile had moved in near you, what would you do?

Visage · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:09

Rich_L said:
TBH all I see this law doing is promoting an atmosphere of fear, how is it beneficial for parents to know a paedophile is 'in the area' - is it going to end up with people afraid to let their children outside?

I think the idea of allowing single parents to check whether a new partner is a sex offender is a good idea though.

Id agree. The right people to have this info are the police - what sex offender will willingly volunteer the ino when they move house if they know that it will result in a mob outside their door. They're much more likely to simply disappear, and that doesnt help anyone....

Visage · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:10

messiah khan said:
Im not to convinced by this law tbh. If you go with the American law, then fair enough you know who and where the peadophiles are, but then you are prone to vigilante attacks. If however you go with this uk law, you don't know who they are, or even exactly where they are, you'll simply know that there are peadophiles in the area. What good does this do other than breed suspision and fear. Its not going to make a parent anymore carefull, as surely they should already teach their kids about being cerefull and not talking to strangers etc.

Exactly. Yet another case of people demanding the government do a job that it shouldnt have to, because they're unwiulling to take responsibility for themselves.

Visage · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:10

Fergie said:
Just to be clear to everyone, that was a joke, I do not condone the forced castration of paedophiles.

I do agree with the principle, but thinking about it if you already lived somewhere and you found out a paedophile had moved in near you, what would you do?

Nothing more than I'd be doing anyway - keeping an eye on my kid, making sure he doesnt talk to strangers etc....

HEADRAT · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:13

Rich_L said:
is it going to end up with people afraid to let their children outside?

I think we're already there, I don't know many parents that will let their "young" children go and play outside!

To be honest paedophiles are extremely devious and will groom children for months, at that point they are no longer "a stranger"!

HEADRAT

iCraig · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:14

SunaseIPs said:
Won't get far with Myra hindley.

Clog her up with cement then?

|Ric| · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:16

Is it just me or is this slightly mislead, sex offender register != paedophile.

As far as I understand you can be on the sex offender register for any number of crimes. I can't quite work out from the article what information will be released in the UK, it just seems a bit muddled :confused:

I can't answer this from a parents point of view but it's a sad day for supporters of parole.

Can't say I think highly of the idea.

chimaera · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:16

cleanbluesky said:
Sad day? It's been practiced for ritual, religion and punishment for thousands of years...

Besides, its proposed use would be as a precaution against reoffending rather than a punishment.

That may be the case but its hardly been enshrined in legislation among the western 'developed' countries. Some tribes force female castration and we find it horrific in this country, you don't see any eunuchs around anymore, in ancient egypt castration was often forced onto slaves. My point is that just because its been done for thousands of years it doesn't make it right.

In this day and age there is absolutely no reason to force bodily mutilations on people. Whats wrong with microchipping them and monitoring their movements, if they go within 50m of a playground it gets flagged up and they get punished.

Besides it would never get past human rights legislation.

Fergie · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:16

Visage said:
Nothing more than I'd be doing anyway - keeping an eye on my kid, making sure he doesnt talk to strangers etc....

As a child I played outside in the street, and around where I lived without my parents supervision. I would like for my kids to be able to do the same. I don't know if I would be happy for them to do the same if I knew there was a paedophile living a few doors down. Would you rather know that there was one nearby or not, in this case?

VIRII · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:18

Rich_L said:
TBH all I see this law doing is promoting an atmosphere of fear, how is it beneficial for parents to know a paedophile is 'in the area' - is it going to end up with people afraid to let their children outside?

I think the idea of allowing single parents to check whether a new partner is a sex offender is a good idea though.

Should we abolish the dangerous dogs act as well then and stop certain breeds from being banned or forced to wear muzzles?
Shall we simply let pitbulls roam the streets and childrens playparks because otherwise parents will be afraid to let their kids out...... :confused:

Who knows, perhaps knowing a paedophile is in the area will make parents go out WITH their children and be involved in their play. Perhaps all the run down areas need to promote better parenting is a few paedos....... oh and some pitbulls of course.

Visage · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:18

HEADRAT said:
I think we're already there, I don't know many parents that will let their "young" children go and play outside!

To be honest paedophiles are extremely devious and will groom children for months, at that point they are no longer "a stranger"!

HEADRAT

Most of them arent a stranger to begin with - isnt a horrifically high %age of abuse done by family members?

VIRII · 10 Apr 2007 at 14:21

Visage said:
Exactly. Yet another case of people demanding the government do a job that it shouldnt have to, because they're unwiulling to take responsibility for themselves.

Are you suggesting that such people simply be locked up forever instead?