Who wants them?

I sat here last night watching the local news station, something I rarely do because it just seems easier to live when I 'm oblivious to all the heartbreaking, and violent things that occur in my very own state. Although some may say that I walk through life with blinders on, I have to admit to you that I can only take so much before I begin to feel nauseous, dizzy and overwhelmed.

However, there was a story on about sex offenders in our fine State. Level three sex offenders to be exact. From things I have heard, the state of Minnesota is pretty strict on their policy regarding these people and I do say 'these people' with venom. Sure, they have some serious mental issues that have caused them to do such twisted things however, that doesn't change my mind about them. We all have a mental issue of some sort, come on, just admit it people as there is no one who is perfect. I know I'm not and most, if not all, have endured some pretty horrible childhood and/or adulthood traumatic things at one time or another. Maybe I am just one of those who is actually stupid enough to admit it, who knows.

Anyway, back to this whole sex offender thing in Minnesota. Currently there are 108 level three offenders in Minnesota, 77 of which live in the Twin Cities. In Minneapolis alone there are 55 level threes. 55! Some women have no idea they walk through their neighborhood everyday.

Apparently, the state wants to move the offenders out of the clusters and spread them throughout the suburbs. Well any smart person can figure out where that will end up, no one wants them in their community. So, what is the solution to this very big problem?

I have 3 daughters and myself to consider in all of this, there are thousands of women who walk around this state and many others for that matter, I certainly don't want them around my kids or myself in our sleepy little town that we live in. Is this something one would call discriminating? Ok, well, I do too but for good reason. Safety issues, call it, "I don't want my beautiful little girls to be violated, my son to be violated, my sisters, my friends, strangers, my mom, my mother in-law, none of them to be violated". You call me a bigot, you call me a horrible person, but do so after you have experienced a violation in which you had no control over, do it once a loved one is violated, beaten, stabbed, hit over the head with some unknown object THEN and only then tell me how horrible I am.

As described by the Department of Corrections in Minnesota, a level three offender is classified as such:

Level Three offenders have been determined to be at the highest risk for re-offense out of all of the three risk levels. Law enforcement may notify all individuals and agencies included in Level One and Level Two notifications, and may also distribute information about the offender to everyone else in the community. In addition, officials may use the media and other distribution methods to get this information to the public. According to law enforcement policy, enforcement officials hold public meetings in the areas where Level Three offenders reside. At those meetings, information about the notification process, about the registration of predatory offenders, and information about the general population of these offenders is distributed and discussed. In addition, information about a specific offender or offenders is released. The information includes a general area of residence, a description of the offender (with photograph), and a description of the pattern of behavior that this offender has been known to display in the past. This disclosure does not apply to offenders that are in licensed residential facilities where staff have been trained to manage sexual offenders (halfway houses) nor does it apply to offenders in secure hospital facilities operated by the Department of Human Services (hospitals at Moose Lake and St. Peter, Minnesota).

I'm sure this is true for all level threes but exactly why would they be allowed to walk free again? Why should we support rehabilitation for these monsters? Can anyone give me a good answer to these two questions? I mean, just because counseling might help me or some stranger overcome post partum depression, does not mean that these people can rehabilitate. The difference is I know what is right and what is wrong and to say that these 'poor' offenders just don't understand, well, then you don't understand. I would say that you would be just as capable of murder, heinious sexual acts, and should really turn yourself in now. Or better yet, those who would like to believe that these perverts can get better, open up your own houses to them and welcome them with open arms. You can have them.