These days, sex offenders can't even go to church in some areas. Not long ago the State of Georgia enacted a law prohibiting sex offenders from volunteering at church. Now a North Carolina sex offender is fighting for the right to attend church, albeit one that also maintains a day-care center. From UPI:
James Nichols, 31, told The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer he was surprised by his arrest in March. Sheriff's deputies learned he was attending Moncure Baptist Church in Chatham County while they were investigating an alleged sexual assault in the parking lot -- one not involving Nichols.
"Anyone in this world has a right to practice their religion, and whether they've made any mistake in their life, they should have the right," Nichols said.
The American Civil Liberties Union is supporting Nichols, while psychologists and social workers who deal with sex offenders are lobbying the General Assembly to modify the state law.
State Sen. David Hoyle, who pushed for the tough law, sees no need for change.
"As far as I'm concerned, they've lost all their rights -- to go to church ... to go to McDonald's to get a cheeseburger ...," the Gastonia Democrat said. "They have made that choice. They have imposed that on themselves. I didn't."
"Anyone in this world has a right to practice their religion, and whether they've made any mistake in their life, they should have the right," Nichols said.
The American Civil Liberties Union is supporting Nichols, while psychologists and social workers who deal with sex offenders are lobbying the General Assembly to modify the state law.
State Sen. David Hoyle, who pushed for the tough law, sees no need for change.
"As far as I'm concerned, they've lost all their rights -- to go to church ... to go to McDonald's to get a cheeseburger ...," the Gastonia Democrat said. "They have made that choice. They have imposed that on themselves. I didn't."
The Georgia law was temporarily enjoined and I think the Free Exercise claim stands a good chance of success. It will be interesting to see if courts split in these cases.
This post started with "These days, sex offenders can't even go to church ...". I personally don't care for the term "sex offender". I am listed on a Sex Offender Registry because I committed sexual offenses over a decade ago but I will not accept a life-long label of "sex offender". I created no life-long suffering victims.
The problem I have with "sex offender" is that most people take it to mean "presently is", i.e. in the present tense. The word "felon" is not taken like that. Some words are like that, some are not. The word "liar" is like that. Like today, I can call most of Georgia's criminal legislators "liars" because they are active liars. But, I would be a fool to call the same person a liar a year from now if I didn't know the person was lying. Of a given legislator, a year from now I could say he was a liar or that he lied, but I think it would be a stretch to call him a liar. And to do so 10 or 20 years from now would be idiotic.
A better term is "Registered Sex Offender". That is present tense, accurate, and clear. I don't listen to the "sex offender" label. I live a completely normal life now, don't break any laws, and don't do anything abnormal. The ONLY reason I even think about sexually offending or retaliating against criminal governments is because I am listed on a Sex Offender Registry. If it were not for that, it would never cross my mind and I would be living a completely normal life just like any other good citizen. But I'm not a good citizen today, hundreds of governments have told me so and most people support them and that idea.
These days I spend quite a bit of time around children and I make it a point to do so ONLY because I am Registered. I feel that every person listed on any Registry should make a concerted effort to spend as much time around children as possible (and legal, of course). That is what these laws deserve. They are immoral and anti-American. The Registration laws were not so evil when they were first dreamed up and implemented. The people (and some liars) who got them started said, "We just want people to be informed." That's fine but the American people have proved that they can't handle the information. They want to add their own punishments to other people.
I feel very sorry for the Senator mentioned in the post (NC State Sen. David Hoyle). It's a shame for him that he feels the way he does and yet reality is so completely different from what he wants. Unfortunately, I do think that some number of Registered people will be affected by what he does and says but I think a very large percentage will not. Personally, I'm not going to allow criminals like him to negatively affected my life, certainly not without retaliation anyway. I will do exactly what I know would cause people like him to lose their little minds. I had a legal sentence imposed on me for what I did. I paid every way I was told to and more. I won't allow people to come along years and years later and tell me to pay more. People like him are a danger to the United States and American ideals. People have likened all this BS to a "war on sex offenders". Well, if it is a war, it's a war that the criminal governments have already lost. In my case, they will only be adding to their casualties.
Posted by: n o n c i t i z e n 2 0 0 9 | August 20, 2009 at 02:43 PM