Stay Safe: Check out Sex Offender Registry

I woke to a news report that a body found in a Georgia landfill was likely that of missing Orange Park, Fla., girl Somer Thompson, who went missing Monday while walking home from school. I watched the anchor pitch to a package that showed the mother in full grief, sobbing to a group hugging her shoulders and burning candles. The mother sang, “You are my Sunshine” through heaves of emotion, and it was all I could bear. I changed the channel.

At some point over these past six years, sometime after I became a mother, my heart became frail. I cannot bear stories of children in harm’s way, not now that I have come to know that paralyzing love that comes with bringing a child into your family and your heart. It’s the stories of children my own son’s age that can cripple me most. Somer’s mother kept saying she couldn’t believe this was happening to her, that her little girl was missing. She said it was “surreal.” I pray to never know that pain.

Investigators are combing the Thompson’s community, checking in on registered sex offenders. This had me wondering if there were any sex offenders in my safe, quite town. I entered my zip code into the National Sex Offender Registry Family Watchdog search engine and was shocked to see the map light up with colored boxes. Red boxes show where people convicted of an offense against children live and work; yellow boxes indicate where those convicted of rape live and work; blue boxes show where people convicted of sexual battery live and work; and green boxes show the homes and work places for those convicted of “other offenses.” You can click on the colored boxes and see the offender’s name, address and photo. Or click the “list” tab and get a full listing of offenders’ names.

I learned that three rapists live within a half-mile of my son’s top-rated elementary school.

I’m not sure the answers here. Convicted criminals need a place to live and work, too. At least I know the areas in my community we should avoid. Family Watchdog says awareness is your best defense. Arm yourself with this important information by visiting the National Sex Offender Registry at www.familywatchdog.us.

Photo, National Sex Offender Registry, www.FamilyWatchdog.us