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ORIGINAL: lalbobbilynn

Such an interesting thread ...... many thanks for bringing it to everyones attention MissSCD!

i have a tween child as well as a very small child, so i have been aware of such sites for over a decade. Because my children travel often to visit extended family (Nanas/Papas; aunts, uncles, and cousins) in other states, i have had a lil experience with several different state sites. North Carolinas site (the city i was in) does not offer ages of the victims, nor does it explain what the leagl charges are. South Carolina is a bit different (better), and Michigan is a bit better then the preceeding two states.
Although my children are not as active as some of their cousins (only one outside activity pre season for my children), i also check out any person that has even a minimal involvement with my children. Does not matter it be baseball, guitar, karate, or even Story Hour at the local library ..... i check every person out!! Some folks feel i am a tad extreme ...... i feel i am a mother who has experienced negative situations as a child. i suppose in hinsight i can see how i appear a ummmmm, bit much ......... such as when my son had his First Communion and was also to do his first confession ........ i followed the Priest into his side of the confession and would not leave ....... i mean, really ......... what could my then eight y/o confess!!! Furthermore ....... (as i explained to the Priest) God entrusted ME with this child, and if the Priest didnt like God's choice, he could go pray on it!!!! When i look at my children ...... their friends ....... i just ...... anyway.
~My father is a police/fireman who has had many a heated converstaions with me about how i am under no circimstances legally allowed to bother any folks i find on such sites. i concur as things could very well be as Greed Top mentioned. Such a situation occured btwn a 17y/o boy and i (was 14), wherein my father threatened said boy with rape if he would not stop seeing me.
That aside i feel strongly that my first job as a mother is to protect my children ...... there are times i go overboard, yet when explained, i have never encountered a person who has blamed me for attempting to keep my children who they are ..... children.
Respectfully~
b.

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ORIGINAL: kittinSol

Especially when children figure on them. There was an article in the NYT a while back that described how some eleven year olds who had "interfered" with other children were hung up there for everyone to see, and the aftermath on their lives. Once up there, it's very difficult to be removed, even if your name is cleared (or indeed, if you were a child yourself when you committed the offense).

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Of course not, Aswad - I don't believe in retributory justice, and I loathe vigilantes and the lynchmob mentality.

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Well, not really. It's made me feel a little paranoid (don't forget I'm not in my "natural environment" here, and that I'm still "adapting", alien that I am), but I'm a rational individual, so I'm not going to lead my life - I'm  a mother too - with suspicion constantly in my mind.

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I can't talk for other people, but I would hope they'd be able to rationalise too.

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"Safety" is all relative, but I'll reiterate that I shan't live as if I or my son or those that I love were constantly in danger - what would be the point of living, then :-) ?

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ORIGINAL: Aswad

You wear a seatbelt while driving, I would presume?

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ORIGINAL: kittinSol

Hmmm... not as consistently as I should.

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ORIGINAL: Aswad

Driving without a seatbelt is a lot more dangerous than being highly promiscuous without using condoms, for instance.

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ORIGINAL: MissSCD

I don't believe in lynch mobs either because they criminal; however, if I had children especially small ones, I would form a group of some kind to make them aware we knew who they are and try to run them out of town.
Sorry, but this nonsence of killing our children and violence has to stop some where. 
 
Regards, MisssSCD

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ORIGINAL: kittinSol

I wonder where that one came from  .

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ORIGINAL: DomKen

Consider your premise a little more closely. A regsitered offender actually living at the registered address is clearly making some effort to comply with the law. Putting pressure on that person to move is simply another encouragement to dropo off the radar and return to criminal behavior. Furthermore if everyone ran every registered offender out of their neighborhood that would leave these people no place to live and that is a sure way to cause more crimes.

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ORIGINAL: DomKen

if everyone ran every registered offender out of their neighborhood that would leave these people no place to live

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ORIGINAL: lalbobbilynn

Aswad Sir ....... i am unceratin how to do that quote thing-y, yet i wanted to add that i agree with so very much of what You said.

Some thirteen yrs ago when i became a mother, i too was generally petrified after discovering such sites. When rational thinking finally came to reside for good in my intellect, i realized just as kittinSol stated ........ i refused to live in overall and general fear.
In all my days i have only had one encounter with a person form such a site. My children and i were in the local coffee shop after our weekly trip to the library. The man behind us commented on the appearnce of my children ..... just a general ....... "what beautiful children", remark. i recognized this person instantly. After his purchase was finished, i walked up to the man (my children were across the coffee shop reading their library books), i leaned into his ear and i said ....... "i dont know You, i just know of You. i am a mother, and all i can think of saying to You is ...... i respectfully request You never speak to my children". i was shaking, and this man looked me in the eye and said ........ "i understand, Ma'am, and i would do the same if i was You. Ya'all have a good day."  He left the coffee shop, and i never saw him again.
i must say i am "usually" an extremely knee jerk reaction type of person. i was pleased with myself that i did not cycle on station, nor make a scene by way of cussing like a drunken salior!!!
The information about this man from the website was very basic ...... yet the charges were numerous, and repetitive. In no way do i regret what i said, nor what i did, nor would i have gone out of my way to make a massive to do if this person had NOT spoken directly to me about my children (i always thought i would, yet i must say, i am quite proud that i did not!!). 
I do not bother to ponder the "what if's" i had not been familiar with such a website, hence unknowing said man by sight. All i know is, i scan such sites monthly, and then go about my life.

Respectfully~
b.

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ORIGINAL: DomKen
Consider your premise a little more closely. A regsitered offender actually living at the registered address is clearly making some effort to comply with the law. Putting pressure on that person to move is simply another encouragement to dropo off the radar and return to criminal behavior. Furthermore if everyone ran every registered offender out of their neighborhood that would leave these people no place to live and that is a sure way to cause more crimes.

The public registry is at best a horrible idea and at worst an incitement to violence.