[Artemisia] Re: Background Checks

[morgan wolf]

I must clarify, then disagree.  Someone guilty of Statutory Rape, which changes from state to state and, as Earc put it, can be something as simple as a year or two age difference, is one thing.  Date Rape is something else, and may be classified as a "one mistake, which that person is trying to recover their life from".  Plain old Rape is another issue entirely, but the big one, the one that i specifically referred to in my posts, is Child Molestation.  Multiple pieces of research have shown that Child Molesters don't "get better", they just control themselves more.  I was asked not to report the person who molested me, even to forgive him, and he went on to molest another child.  If he wasn't under constant supervision now, he would do it again, I have no doubts.  

So, for those other level 1 sex offenders, like the guy caught peeping in the girl's bedroom window, I am not passing judgment.  For those Child Molesters on this list, if there are any, I say they most certainly do NOT fit into the SCA.  There is nothing Chivalrous, Honorable, or even decent about a person who does that to a child, and that person will NEVER stop wanting to do that to children, period.  Again, like rabies in dogs, there's only one cure.

If you disagree with me, fine, that is your perogative.  If you expect me to say that a known Child Molester should be allowed to be part of the SCA just like anyone else, I can give you 40 examples of why that's wrong, just from the Shire of Arrow's Flight.  There is absolutely nothing that can be said to convince me that a Child Molester is safe to have around my Pages, my friends' children, any children at all.  I will be the first to petition for absolute banishment for any known Molester, and any violent (level 2 or higher) Sex Offender.

Am I emotional about this topic? Abso-damn-lutely.  Do I think it should be discussed "un-emotionally"?  Hell no, everyone should have strong feelings about these issues.

Morgan

----- Original Message ----
From: Richard Samul <scascot at mac.com>
To: Kingdom of Artemisia mailing list <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>; SCA-Chirurgeon at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 7:12:32 AM
Subject: [Artemisia] Re: Background Checks


I fear where this policy is leading us. Already, on several lists,  
there have been comments of "good riddance" - and even implied  
threats of physical violence. There has even been a suggestion that  
sex offenders as a whole should not be allowed to join the SCA.

That is not the SCA I joined.

Sex offenses are reprehensible. No one knows that better than I. But,  
as bad as they are, it should be remembered that the sex offenders  
are people. Granted, there are a few who fall into the "heartless,  
soulless monster" category, but for the most part, a convicted sex  
offender is someone who is trying to pick up the pieces of their life  
and who usually manages to live as a productive member of the  
community. It should also be remembered that not every convicted sex  
offender has committed a crime against a child. There are a myriad  
number of ways to get onto a sex offender registry, including  
convictions for solicitation of prostitution, or being an 18 year old  
having sex with a 17 year old girlfriend with an over-protective parent.

Sex offenders who have committed crimes against children shouldn't be  
allowed to supervise children. And those who seek to be in such a  
position should be banished absolutely from the SCA. Period, end of  
discussion. But, if we begin excluding sex offenders (whatever their  
crime) from even participating in the SCA at any level, then we have  
lost something. At a bare minimum, we will have lost whatever  
knowledge or skills they possess. And that is not an SCA that I want  
to be a part of.

So, I beg this of the members of this list: Know that, based on sheer  
percentages, there are sex offenders on this list. You may be shocked  
to find out who they are. The debate and discussion, while much  
needed for the protection of children from those who would prey on  
them, needs to be conducted on an unemotional level.

Thoughtfully,

Earc
Arn Hold
Artemisia
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