The New York Times four-month investigation of pedophiles online reveals revolting and dangerous conversations about molesting children. In sum, today’s online pedophiles believe that society misunderstands them and that children really want to have sex with adults. Online pedophiles are leading a social movement towards the acceptance of sex with children. These chat groups also share information on how to gain access to children and how to further their mission in having sex with children, in propagating child pornography, and in gaining social acceptance of this criminal behavior.
NAMBLA, or the North American Man-boy Love Association, declares that they are fighting oppression against sexual relationships between adults and children. Last year, Robert Hamer, the undercover FBI agent who arrested some NAMBLA members, said before he retired that this was the most personally challenging assignment in his 26-year career: “These are ministers, special-education teachers, a dentist, professional people. They're your next-door neighbor, your kid's coach."
The pedophiles seem to be winning this war on our children’s safety. Most of us remain blissfully unaware that there even is a war. Yet this war is taking precious casualties: Last week in Tampa Bay, a 2 ½ year old girl died from being sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend.
What can we do? First, we can supervise our children ourselves. Second, we can enact and enforce tougher laws (such as life in prison for first offense) on the sexual predators of children. Third, we can make any discussion of pedophilia on the web illegal. We can recognize the web as a portal to catch pedophiles and designate more resources to catch predators online. Do not retreat from this war!
1 comment:
OK, my comments now that I've had a chance to discuss and think about this for a day now. I agree that stricter laws would be beneficial and are necessary. However, you have got to be careful with the freedom of speech thing. By adding "discussion of pedophilia" to the list of illegal discussions such as terrorist conspiracy or plotting to kill the president, I believe we take a step in the wrong direction. As a friend asked me when I brought this up, "What would be next? Where do you draw the line on what's legal and not legal to discuss?" In this country we in general do not make a potential crime a crime, even if that crime is the worst one imaginable. To criminalize just discussing something takes us a step in the wrong direction.
How about this... What if by discussing such a heinous act in a public forum, like in an Internet chat room, you relinquish you privacy rights? If you are caught doing do, ISPs would be required to hand over your personal information when asked the authorities could then keep a close eye on your every move. It is known that the pedophiles benefit from being able to discuss these things on the Internet. Others point them to jobs near children; their sick views are reaffirmed by others; etc. If they knew they would be subject to scrutiny and possibly spied upon if they were to engage in the public discussion of this terrible crime, then maybe this would be a step in the right direction to minimize this problem.
Times have changed. We are not as free as we used to be. In this day and age, how can a parent feel comfortable sending their child away to sleep away summer camp knowing that pedophiles are known to haunt these places. Without new laws or action against this behavior, we are destined to lose even more freedom. We just have to be careful we don't pay for this freedom with other liberties.
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