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What is Being Done to Protect Our Children?

By S.L, published Jan 13, 2007
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There is definitely cause to celebrate all around America, but especially in the Ownby and Hornbeck homes.

Friday, two missing Missouri boys, one of them missing since 2002, were found alive in a Kirkwood, Missouri, and their suspected kidnapper was arrested.

William Ben Ownby, 13, had been missing since Monday, while Shawn Hornbeck, 15, according to cnn, was last seen riding his bike to a friend's house in October 2002.

Thursday night, two police officers in suburban Kirkwood went to a residence at the apartment complex to serve an unrelated warrant. While there, they noticed a rusty white Nissan pickup truck that matched the description of that sought in the Ownby case.

Michael J. Devlin, 41, was arrested and has been charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, and is being held on $1 million bail. More charges are sure to come.

So there, we have a happy ending. Yes and no.

I'm elated that these young men were found and brought home to their families, but I'm disgusting by how a 41 year old man could kidnap two children, and keep, at least one, away from their families for years. The bottom line is America is way too lax when it comes to sex offenders and crimes against children.

They commit these horrendous, unspeakable acts against children, they serve a little time, and then their released as if nothing happen. Who cares if their on probation? Who gives a crap if they end up in the sex offender's database? How exactly will that keep them from harming another child? It won't, they did it once, and more then likely the will do it again.

If you don't believe me then think about Joseph Edward Duncan III, the convicted sex offender who kidnapped Shasta Groene, 8, and her brother, Dylan Groene, 9, but not before killing their mother, older brother and their mother's boyfriend. The family apparently lived in a very rural part of Idaho. Duncan, who was already wanted for child molestation charges in another state, apparently had been watching the family. After killing their love ones, he kidnapped Shasta and her brother. Shasta made it home alive, her brother didn't.

What is Being Done to Protect Our Children?

It's up to us to insist that the government do more to protect our children.

Credit: web

Copyright: web

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Showing Comments 1 - 11 of 11
 
 
I would love to read an update on this case and the families.

Posted on 02/19/2007 at 10:02:00 PM

 
I already do live in a world where I'm paranoid all the time. Every terrible story I hear makes me want to keep my kids on a leash, never allowing them out of sight or arm's reach for a second. Our justice system is far to leniant with criminals, so concerned about their "rights" that it allows criminals to get away with horrible crimes against defenseless children.

Posted on 01/22/2007 at 12:01:00 PM

 
Again, I must mention a remote island with no escape, no visitors, and no guards, and no chance of ever getting off. EVER

Posted on 01/15/2007 at 11:01:00 AM

 
Great article!! Keep up the good work!

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 10:01:00 PM

 
i understand what your saying chrissy, they think that being touchy and feely is okay. they believe that not going to far will keep them out of jail.

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 2:01:00 PM

 
I recently ran into this very problom. A person in the family groped my 8 year old daughter through her clothes so it wasn't enough to send him to jail. Thankfuly the police were very seriouse about getting him behind bars and went all out to get him to confess and found three others to keep him there.

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 10:01:00 AM

 
No susan, i haven't heard anything about what this did or didn't do to the children, but i get your question which is why i state "The bottom line is America is way too lax when it comes to sex offenders and crimes against children." I think that covers everything. sex offences and other crimes against children, kidnapping....etc

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 9:01:00 AM

 
I definitely agree with what you say about sex offenders. We'll put people in jail for minor infractions at the drop of a hat, but we can't jail sex offenders, rapists, kidnappers appropriately? It makes no sense at all.

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 7:01:00 AM

 
How did you get from the Devlin case to sex offenders?? Is there some suspicion that the boys were molested?

Posted on 01/14/2007 at 1:01:00 AM

 
Great article. I enjoy articles dealing with protecting our children. I was stunned by this news as well.

Posted on 01/13/2007 at 5:01:00 PM

 
Good commentary. Maybe the next step is doing articles on where parents might find helpful allies. The guy from America's Most Wanted could be a good place to start.

Posted on 01/13/2007 at 3:01:00 PM

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