Issue Position: Protecting America's Children

Issue Position

Issue Position: Protecting America's Children

In 2005, America has become profoundly aware of the threat of assault by sexual predators that everyday imperil our children. All of America was appalled at the tragic stories coming out of our community over the past year. Affected more than most was Citrus County resident and businessman Joseph Dawson. Joseph and Marlene Dawson felt compelled to act when they recalled not one, but two local children who had visited their "Dr. GEM" Jewelry Store located in Homosassa Florida that were later abducted and murdered by child predators in their community.

Joseph and Marlene Dawson dove full tilt into their mission to protect America's children from sexual predators. Together they closed their jewelry store in order to focus completely on their effort to get legislation passed to protect children in Florida and across the nation.

Their effort, now a nationwide phenomenon, attracted over 150,000 letters of support from ordinary citizens and legislators… who were signing on to their effort to safeguard children through:

* Tougher penalties for new and repeat offenders.
* Improved means of threat level assessment of offenders.
* Enhanced tracking of past offenders released back to the community as required by law.

As a strong supporter of Child safety and the effort and enthusiasm of Joseph and Marlene Dawson, I encourage visitors to my website to visit www.NationalChildAmendment.com as well as www.protectfloridachildren.com. Floridians interested in learning about sexual predators in their neighborhood or community are encouraged to visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement database of sexual predators at http://www3.fdle.state.fl.us/sexual_predators
As a child I recall being told to beware of strangers… and in fact had a frightening experience as a man attempted to abduct me from my Mother as we walked in downtown Buffalo, New York when I was perhaps 4 years of age. I can remember being told by my Mother, as I'm certain you have as well to "Never talk to strangers". Good advice to heed under most circumstances except in an emergency when a "stranger" such as a parent or store employee may be the only source of immediate assistance when a child is threatened.

In an article published in the August 3, 2005 edition of the St. Petersburg Times entitled "Stranger Danger may need rethinking", research data as well as opinions of various organizations dedicated to child safety were cited as to how your child may best be kept safe. Since children are usually not in the company of their parents when danger arises, children need to learn how to stay safe on their own.

Quoting from the AP article published in The St. Petersburg Times, Nancy Sabin, Executive Director of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, www.jwf.org, "More than 80% of the time, the abductor is someone in the neighborhood… The myth is that it's the guy in the trench coat unknown to the child, while in fact it is rarely a total stranger… Most people who are going to help a child are strangers." Ms Sabin advises parents to practice "what if" scenarios with their children… such as what should a child do if separated from a parent at a crowded mall? Store clerks are one avenue of securing help from a stranger.

Nancy McBride of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, www.missingkids.com says that the message of her organization to parents is to teach children to recognize and avoid certain situations, rather than certain people. Ms. McBride states that instilling blanket fear of unfamiliar adults may even be harmful.

According to Ms. Mcbride, "children should be taught to extricate themselves as swiftly as possible from situations that frighten or discomfort them, even if that entails brusque behavior. That is going to be tough for some parents… You're giving your children permission to be impolite if their safety is at stake."

For parents it is imperative to listen to their children. Clues to the source of a child's anxiety may be subtle. Watch for changes in behavior or a reluctance to be with a particular individual. The practice of basic safety skills is of particular importance. As a parent, keeping informed is of vital importance. By visiting the websites listed here parents and others are offered the opportunity to become informed and in turn to better safeguard their children and improve the safety of the community that we all share.

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