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Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,893
9,500
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
Sex offenders live in all types of neighborhoods. And buying in a neighborhood that is "sex offender free" does not guarantee that one won't move in at a later date.

I have to say I am not a mom on the internet checking to see where the convicted sickos live. I mean, do these moms also do a search for all other criminal behavior? where do the killers and stealers live? what about the druggies? I am just not willing to live like that. besides, I would be willing to bet that most really dangerous people have not been convicted and are not on that list. best to find more realistic ways of protecting your family and teaching your children to protect themselves. we had a good parent education meeting several weeks ago when Jimmy Macon, Walton County school safety officer talked to us about not only teaching our children about safety in the community (and home) but actually role playing, acting it out, what to do or say in situations. Sometimes we get relaxed in Sowal. We need to remember to teach our children to protect themselves here and everywhere. thank you Jimmy for helping our school to be as safe as it can be!!!
 
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wrobert

Beach Fanatic
Nov 21, 2007
4,132
575
63
DeFuniak Springs
www.defuniaksprings.com
Buy right next to school and it will be. Also Florida is trying to define the distance as being from a school bus stop. This would make it very difficult to find housing. Not that I care if someone who stole a child's innocence has to move to no man's land.


I thought Georgia did this and it was recently overturned as too restrictive.
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,644
1,773
YES, YES, YES.......one more thing to put on the to do list before buying in the area. Check the neighborhood. The sad part is that so many of the offenders (at least in our area)---have unverified addresses. But, this guys flyer clearly states his address.

It is good to be aware of the ones living in your neighborhood, but remember that anyone can move in next door, at anytime, even if you buy in an area with no offenders. Also, remember that many predators have not been arrested and many predators are family members of their victims.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
I am not sure how that would work if they are married. From what I heard the wife of this guy is a teenager that had her parents permission.

What a lovely legacy of great parenting. What the puck were those parents thinking to let their teenage daughter marry a convicted sex offender?

How nice to know that in Florida a sex offender can marry someone underage w/o any government interference.

This whole thing is so incredibly disgusting!
 

dunelover

Beach Fanatic
Jan 14, 2007
484
88
Oklahoma girl
www.thebeamstore.com
Sex offenders live in all types of neighborhoods. And buying in a neighborhood that is "sex offender free" does not guarantee that one won't move in at a later date.
Agreed. If a registered offender moves in our state, the state is required to notify people within a certain radius. I agree, it is only one piece of the "protection" we should have. I remember a case in Phoenix where a friend of mine lives. A guy was visiting (staying with) someone at a home right behind my friends house. While he was visiting he molested and killed a child......so, I am aware that checking before doesn't guarantee anything. But, I would say checking the neighborhood is quite prudent for your children's safety, and for your property values.

Buy right next to school and it will be. Also Florida is trying to define the distance as being from a school bus stop. This would make it very difficult to find housing. Not that I care if someone who stole a child's innocence has to move to no man's land.

Exactly! The bus stop thing might be a hard one.

It is good to be aware of the ones living in your neighborhood, but remember that anyone can move in next door, at anytime, even if you buy in an area with no offenders. Also, remember that many predators have not been arrested and many predators are family members of their victims.

That is so true, especially in your area, because you have different tourists all the time. I have heard the professionals say that the victims typically know their offender.

I thought Georgia did this and it was recently overturned as too restrictive.

I don't know about Georgia, but we have that law in Oklahoma. What has happened is that a few places are known to be "safe" to offenders. Interestingly, one of these places frequently reported on the news was within yards of my daughters ballet studio. Not much different than a school.
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,706
3,339
Sowal
Can you make it part of a neighborhoods covenants and restrictions that sex offenders are not allowed to own property there?

Assume it would get struck down as discrimination, but liked the idea of it.
IMO you lose your "rights" once you decide to become a child abusing perv or rapist. :angry:
 

dunelover

Beach Fanatic
Jan 14, 2007
484
88
Oklahoma girl
www.thebeamstore.com
Can you make it part of a neighborhoods covenants and restrictions that sex offenders are not allowed to own property there?

Assume it would get struck down as discrimination, but liked the idea of it.
IMO you lose your "rights" once you decide to become a child abusing perv or rapist. :angry:
You know, I really am not sure about that. I was on our HOA board, and we did not have it in our covenants. Our thought on the board was that we couldn't go above and beyond what the law would allow. There is talk in our state of opening a nursing home just for offenders. :eek: Can you imagine wanting to work there? :eek:
 

Camp Creek Kid

Christini Zambini
Feb 20, 2005
1,277
125
54
Seacrest Beach
It is good to be aware of the ones living in your neighborhood, but remember that anyone can move in next door, at anytime, even if you buy in an area with no offenders. Also, remember that many predators have not been arrested and many predators are family members of their victims.


I'm more concerned about the nonresidents who visit our community. There are so many people coming and going ALL the time.
 

organicmama

Beach Fanatic
Jul 31, 2006
1,638
338
WNC
wncfarmtotable.org
I'm more concerned about the nonresidents who visit our community. There are so many people coming and going ALL the time.


Me too, our neighborhood is great with the "stay away from x,y or z" here. Never really had that happen before, although I have also learned to befriend the older & wiser people around me because they know what the heck's going on with people & who's doing what.

Thanks for this whole thread. It's very informative.

Sometimes, I think about our daughters and tourists coming in as they grow older & the negative possibilities, but if I sat around and thought about too much, I'd go nuts.:eek:
 

ShallowsNole

Beach Fanatic
Jun 22, 2005
4,279
857
Pt Washington
Can you make it part of a neighborhoods covenants and restrictions that sex offenders are not allowed to own property there?

Assume it would get struck down as discrimination, but liked the idea of it.
IMO you lose your "rights" once you decide to become a child abusing perv or rapist. :angry:

I would change the language to sexual predators. There are many people on the offender's registry that are not perverted at all, but simply chose the wrong partner. Case in point - Fuzz's nephew. Nephew was 18? 19? and had consensual relations with a girl he had been seeing for a short time. He thought she was 17. Daddy caught them :creepy: - she was 14. Nephew is reported to be the third boy the girl's daddy had sent to prison. :angry:

But, the law is the law, and it must apply equally. That is why I tend not to pay attention to the offender list. By its very definition, every sexually active teenager could qualify.
 
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