Is the ACLU good for America?

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Lancer
Sick society that protects its sex offenders instead of its children. Those who advocate such crap are out of their minds. I'm just sickened, and done with this thread.

Don't go off in a huff!

[Dinner]

Lancer, that place is bunk. They are trying to charge people to see the information in the Megan's Law web site when you can already get the information free from a government site.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Oerdin

Such laws are used against homeless people in cities which don't want to pay for shelters, drug treatment programs, or mental health care to treat the causes of homelessness. Instead they just try to make life intolerable for the undesirable group so that they move some where else.

That's not good but many people are like this mayor in Maimi and would just like it if the problem would go away and become someone else's problem.

Yes, that's the intent and it's dangerous. We have to reach some form of accomodation with most people, even with our child molestors. Erect too many punitive barriers and more witnesses will be slain in order to silence them and more law officers will be killed in the line of duty by desperate criminals with nothing to lose. Molestors even now flee probation and treatment because of the onorous provisions of the law even after they've served their terms.

This law should (and I predict will) go down the same way and for many of the same reasons that the gun ban near schools went down.

[Dinner]

http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

Megan's Law - Facts about Sex Offenders

Let us see how much we know-and see how much of what we think has been based on the myths we have all heard about sexual assault and sex offenders. Take 5 minutes to complete the True or False Quiz:

Most men who commit sexual offenses do not know their victim.

False. 90% of child victims know their offender, with almost half of the offenders being a family member. Of sexual assaults against people age 12 and up, approximately 80% of the victims know the offender.

Most sexual assaults are committed by someone of the same race as the victim.

True. Most sexual assaults are committed by someone of the same race as the victim. An exception to this is that people who commit sexual assault against Native Americans are usually not Native American (American Indians and Crime, 1999).

Most child sexual abusers use physical force or threat to gain compliance from their victims.

False. In the majority of cases, abusers gain access to their victims through deception and enticement, seldom using force. Abuse typically occurs within a long-term, ongoing relationship between the offender and victim and escalates over time.

Most child sexual abusers find their victims by frequenting such places as schoolyards and playgrounds.

False. Most child sexual abusers offend against children whom they know and with whom they have established a relationship. Many sexual assaults of adult women are considered "confidence rapes," in that the offender knows the victim and has used that familiarity to gain access to her.

Only men commit sexual assault.

False. While most sex offenders are male, sometimes sex offenses are committed by female offenders.

Child sexual abusers are only attracted to children and are not capable of appropriate sexual relationships.

False. While there is a small subset of child sexual abusers who are exclusively attracted to children, the majority of the individuals who sexually abuse children are (or have previously been) attracted to adults.

Victims of sexual assault are harmed only when offenders use force.

False. More than any physical injuries the victim sustains, the violation of trust that accompanies most sexual assaults has been shown to dramatically increase the level of trauma the victim suffers. Emotional and psychological injuries cause harm that can last much longer than physical wounds.

If a child does not tell anyone about the abuse, it is because he or she must have consented to it.

False. Children often do not tell for a variety of reasons including the offender's threats to hurt or kill someone the victim loves, as well as shame, embarrassment, wanting to protect the offender, feelings for the offender, fear of being held responsible or being punished, fear of being disbelieved, and fear of losing the offender who may be very important to the child or the child's family.

It is common for both child and adult victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone about the abuse.

True. It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone. When the person was assaulted as a child, he or she may wait years or decades. The reasons for this are numerous: victims may want to deny the fact that someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to just put it behind them; they may believe the myth that they caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other people will react to the truth.

If someone sexually assaults an adult, he will not target children as victims, and if someone sexually assaults a child, he will not target adults.

False. Research and anecdotal evidence indicate that while some sex offenders choose only one type of victim (e.g., prepubescent girls, post-pubescent boys, adult women, etc.), others prey on different types of victims. Therefore, no assumptions should be made about an offender's victim preference and precautions should be taken regardless of his crime of conviction.

It helps the victim to talk about the abuse.

True. The victim's recovery will be enhanced if she or he feels believed, supported, protected, and receives counseling following the disclosure that s/he was assaulted. However, sexual assault victims should always have the choice about when, with whom, and under what conditions they wish to discuss their experiences.

Sexual gratification is often not a primary motivation for a rape offender.

True. While some offenders do seek sexual gratification from the act, sexual gratification is often not a primary motivation for a rape offender. Power, control, and anger are more likely to be the primary motivators.

Offenders could stop their sexually violent behavior on their own if they wanted to.

False. Wanting to change is usually not enough to be able to change the patterns that lead to sexual offenses. To create the motivation to change, some offenders need a variety of treatment and corrective interventions, and for others learning how to make the change in their own behavioral cycle of abuse is more effective.

Men who rape do so because they cannot find a consenting sexual partner.

False. Studies suggest that most rape offenders are married or in consenting relationships. Drugs and alcohol cause sexual offenses to occur.

False. While drugs and alcohol are often involved in sexual assaults, drugs and alcohol do not cause sexual offenses to occur. Rather, drug and alcohol use may be a disinhibitor for the offender, while being under the influence may increase a potential victim's vulnerability.

Victims of sexual assault often share some blame for the assault.

False. Adult and child victims of sexual abuse are never to blame for the assault, regardless of their behavior. Because of the age difference, children are unable to legally consent to sexual acts. They are often made to feel like willing participants, which further contributes to their shame and guilt.

If a victim does not say "no" or does not "fight back," it is not sexual assault.

False. Sexual assault victims may not say "no" or not fight back for a variety of reasons including fear and confusion. Rape victims often report being "frozen" by fear during the assault, making them unable to fight back; other victims may not actively resist for fear of angering the assailant and causing him to use more force in the assault. Pressure to be liked and not be talked about negatively by a peer will sometimes cause adolescents or children to avoid fighting back or actively resisting.

[Dis]

Is the ACLU good for America?

overall- yes. But they have taken some shady cases. And their consistency is suspect sometimes.

I give their grade a B-

[Berzerker]

Good, someone should as the professed Libertarians here seem to be falling down on the job.

Hehe

but why is it anti-libertarian to impose fewer restrictions on pedophiles in exchange for not spending the rest of their lives permanently isolated away with people who'd gladly kill them. It would be anti-libertarian and anti-constitution (and immoral) to impose these restrictions after telling them their debt was paid, but for those in the future who acquire this debt, their payment plan will be altered. If we let em out (and I wouldn't even do that), they'll still have restrictions.

[Dinner]

Currently these are the restrictions placed upon sex offenders California and the rules apply for 7-10 years (depends on offense) after release and are stopped when a Certificate of rehabilitation is earned or when the person recieves a pardon from the Governor.

1) Must Register as a sex offender with the local law enforcement agency and update this information at least once a year. If they move then they must inform the local police and reregister with in 5 days.

2) If the crime was against a minor under 16 then they may not work with children or around children or in any job which has contact with children.

3) Must notify police of any name changes with in 5 days.

4) Name, address, offense commited, date of conviction are all freely available on the internet or at any police station for all registered sex offenders.

[MikeH]

Keep up the good work in this thread Imran.

[Ned]

The ACLU is a extremist organization that is seeking to convert the public domain into a god-free zone, undermine US foreign policy, and extend the so called right of privacy to permit the courts to legislate their idea of utopia regardless of the peoples wishes. There is no pervert or criminal that is not protected, nor a Christian organization that is not sued.

Now, all this is to the good if you just happen to be an atheist and/or anti-American.

[MikeH]

It amuses me that the US religious right tries to make protecting fundamental constitutionally protected American values like freedom of speech etc. sound "anti-American".

Crazy.

[Berzerker]

why is it anti-American to try and stop religious folk from legislating your existence based on their religion? Many of the first peoples came here for that very reason - to get away from religious zealots. And why does my being American compel me to support the political whackos in Washington who think we can push people around and not pay a price? And privacy sure played an important role in writing the 4th Amendment, were the Framers anti-American too?

[MikeH]

I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write. - Voltaire

[Lancer]

"Lancer, that place is bunk. They are trying to charge people to see the information in the Megan's Law web site when you can already get the information free from a government site."-Oerdin

Yes, I was surprised to see it cost $19.95 when someone said it was free. This explains it, thanks.

Don't go off in a huff!

I did too!

[Guynemer]

Membership in ACLU? $20.

ACLU pissing off Ned to no end? Priceless.

ACLU

[Ned]

Originally posted by MikeH
It amuses me that the US religious right tries to make protecting fundamental constitutionally protected American values like freedom of speech etc. sound "anti-American".

Crazy.

Mike, the anti-Americanism comes from a consistent attack on the US military by the ACLU.