There is some rational thought when discussing preventive measures. We do need to keep a better eye on the children and know the people that are watching the children as well. But many people knew Kenny, just because you knew a person for 10-15 years doesn't mean that he is not dangerous. Think about the 3 ladies that were abducted and locked up in a house for over a decade. Nobody really questioned it , it all depends on how well you can hide your 'bad behaviors'. No security system is fool proof. If someone is desperate enough, they will find a weakness to the system and exploit it.
Recently in Witch.vox, there was an article written by Lady Ann Oxyer aka Lady Sage Bastisis , her articled was titled: Safety: Lets shift our focus. I strongly disagree with her concept of improving security at pagan events. She states: "There is a very easy way to counteract the tactics of sex offenders. As I do in my coven, every person who attends an event absolutely has to be checked, at the very least, against the National Sex Offender Registry. It is a free website that anyone can look at and it only takes 15 seconds to type in someone's name and run a quick check. If the person sends in their registration before the event, even better. You can check them out before they show up at your event's registration table. At the registration table, have a laptop with mobile WiFi set up for the ones who didn't register ahead of time."
A few paragraphs down she then states:"In addition to checking everyone against the sex offender registry, I also propose that state issued It’s be checked at registration, a photocopy of the I.D. is taken and kept on file, and that you keep records indefinitely. I can think of several reasons why this is a good idea; however, the main one being that you have a person's legal name AND photo in case the unthinkable happens at an event. It is much easier for a victim of a sex crime to look through copies of photo I.D.'s to find a perpetrator's face and also it makes cooperating with a police investigation MUCH easier."
So starting with checking every name against the sex offender's registry. If a person has no sexual criminal history, they have nothing to worry about. But this can be beaten easily, How many people can tell if an out of state license is real or forged. I could get an out of state license with a fake name , and I will not show up on the registry, and thus get access to the event.
And there is one thing that has not been mentioned by all the security minded people that want to impose security standards. What if the next pervert that walks through that gate has never been caught before? The Sex offenders registry can't list people that haven't been found guilty of sex crimes.
Taking a photocopy of the ID is something I would have to scream no to. And it would be something that would cause many people to walk away from pagan events. I say this because many pagans are still in the broom closet and the chance that this information getting out would be devastating to them. The worst thing happens, a little girl is molested at an event. All the people that went to the event are called to the police station. What if "Billy" , snuck to the event because he is only 19 and still lives with his parents, which are devout Christians. The police call his mom and inform her of the Pagan Pride day and the possible connection to the little girl getting molested. Can you imagine what "Billy's" life is going to be after that call.
"John" is also in the broom closet, he attended the same event. He is innocent of everything, but the police go to his work and talk to him. If it gets out that he is a pagan, he could lose his job. Having the police talk to him about a child molestation is also going to cause havoc on his life. Yes I would want the pervert found and arrested, but I also don't want it to destroy other lives in the process either. They couldn't ID the assailant because he wore a mask. It is also known that minors sexually abuse those younger than themselves. So if a 15 year old molests a 7 year old, there would be no photo ID to compare with.
Far too many ways to breach the supposed security. And there will be many of you that will tell me that this is just a start. And that is what I am afraid of. Look at the anger and disgust with the NSA at the airports. Do we want something like the NSA for pagan events? Are we going to require advanced screening and applications to attend pagan events? Sorry sir, your application was turned down, you didn't get it in our office in time to purchase a ticket. Sorry madam, we no longer allow walk-ins at Iowa Pagan events, you will have to leave.
And then many pagan events occur in NATURE, scary concept I know. And this lady stated:"For many years I have preached, pleaded, and begged leaders in the Pagan Community to NOT take such a laissez faire approach to festival/Pagan event planning. Most Pagan events are held in semi-remote, wooded, primitive camping type settings. People show up at these festivals, pay their entrance fees, and are free to set up camp (literally) , as they like." And it is true, The Iowa Pagan Pride event takes place at an open city park where people from the surrounding area can just waltz in. So a pervert doesn't even have to get processed at the from gate to get in. But by her standard, pagan events should now go inside a secured fenced in area with a patrol or a large building to regulate all people coming and going from the event.
While an event should make sure that the area is safe for kids to be at. It is still the parents job to watch over their children. Why should event organizers be held to resolve security issues, when it should be the parents held responsible. Mom and Dad want to look at the vendors stuff, kids go run and play over there.
There are bad people out there. They don't wear signs or send warnings. Some people can hold their evil intentions back until they know they can get away with it. No security system is fool proof, if there is a weakness ,people will find it.
All of this comes at a price that I don't want to pay. There is a nice little quote that I remember, and I want to share it with you. “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” Quote by Benjamin Franklin. When great acts go against people, there seems to be people that take advantage of the situation to get what they seek. Look at Bush and the Patriot acts. Let's not go down this road of over-reaction. We have seen the results with the TSA. In the US we value our freedoms of religion, but will we allow fears take control and Tarnish what we are working so hard to build?
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" - Benjamin Franklin
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" - Benjamin Franklin
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" - Benjamin Franklin
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
Read more at http://www.dictionary-quotes.com/the-man-who-trades-freedom-for-security-does-not-deserve-nor-will-he-ever-receive-either-benjamin-franklin/#KgBjuClswx5zmLST.99
With several organizations with which I volunteer, there are children, and adults. The rule is, there are always three. It's much harder to get 3 people to all agree to something heinous.
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