Sex offender ban (from public parks) gains steam

[The Straight Story]

Sex offender ban gains steam
Bolstered by court ruling, Lebanon may enact ordinance; Zionsville remains hesitant

Lebanon (Indiana) may follow the lead of several other area municipalities in banning sex offenders from public parks, but the possibility for such a law in Zionsville remains uncertain.

Last month, the Indiana Supreme Court declined to overturn Plainfield's ban on sex offenders in public parks, spurring Lebanon to move forward with writing a similar ordinance. Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis said attorney Eileen Sims is drafting the ordinance, which will likely be presented to the City Council Sept. 14.
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"We want to make sure we've researched it well and we're doing the right thing," Lewis said.

Lewis said an appeals process could be included in the ordinance, allowing certain offenders to be able to go to events with their family.

More than 50 registered sex offenders live in Lebanon, a handful within a few blocks of public parks.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090903/LOCAL0202/909030316/1145/LOCAL02/Sex+offender+ban+gains+steam+in+Zionsville

[harry_pothead]

1. I might be okay with it,

except people get put on the sex offender registry for the stupidest shit, like streaking or mooning or peeing in the bushes.

And the 18 year old boy who had a 15 year old girlfriend who's parents didn't like him and decided to get back at him.

[The Straight Story]

2. Officials are too lazy to examine facts of cases, labels make it so much easier for them

Which has become a problem in this country with many other issues as well.

[ikri]

3. Just make them wear a fucking badge already

If you want a society that stigmatizes someone for life you may as well go the whole hog, make them wear a badge or better still have their crimes tattooed to their foreheads.

Best part about it, IT WON'T HELP. Whilst you're watching out for perverts on every corner they're far more likely to be assaulted by someone well known to, and trusted by, your family.

[tularetom]

4. Or more likely by a MEMBER of your family

[Laelth]

5. Ghettos are next, followed by ovens. Depressing, isn't it? n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[saltpoint]

6. Well, hell, let's ban them from State Parks as well! They could attack

anyone at a State Park or a National Park or in a court house or a Wal-Mart or a drug store or at Tire Kingdom.

Run for your lives, everyone!

[Tim01]

7. And a bazillion new cops to enforce it. nt

[kiva]

8. An interesting list of deeds that can put you on the sex offenders registry:

• If you allow your teenager to have sex.
• If you discipline an unruly child.
• If you kiss your naked baby.
• If you breastfeed your baby.
• If you take pictures of your children naked.
• If you’re a teenager taking naked pictures of yourself or your sweetheart.
• If you win custody in a nasty divorce.
• If you get caught taking a pee.
• If you have consensual sex in prison.
• If you kiss a student on the cheek.
• If you take pictures of children in public.
• If you look at children in public.
• If you have consensual sex with a teenager.

Georgia, 2002. When Janet Allison's 15-year-old daughter got pregnant, she allowed her 17-year-old boyfriend to move in with the family. For this, she was convicted of being a party to child molestation. Even though the couple later married, she remains a registered sex offender for enabling their relationship. Because of this, she has had to move out of her four-bedroom home, which was too close to a church, and now lives in a trailer.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1c7_1245056884

I'm not familiar with livelink, but assuming the piece is accurate (it does have citations) this is a very good reason to worry about legislation like this one in Lebanon.

[jberryhill]

9. Most People Don't Know How Broad This Is

Yes, if you get caught "mooning" someone in a juvenile prank in college, you can be a " sex offender" for the rest of your life.