Most of the articles covering this story refer to Gary Lee Blanton and Jerry Wayne Ray as "rapists" who were "shot dead." As a fellow advocate said yesterday, "Animals are 'shot dead.' People are murdered."
He's right. If either of the two men had been virtually anyone else, or even had criminal convictions that were not considered sex offenses, we might not even hear about the shooting to begin with. But if we did, we'd hear about how they were gunned down in cold blood and left behind a wife and a mother and two children. We'd see photographs of a crying woman with her head in her hands and there would be quotes from friends and community members talking about what a senseless loss it was.
Instead, all the newspaper has to say is a copied-and-pasted description of their crime from the Camprall County sex offender registry. The only photographs of them are their mug shots. Readers from all over the country are lauding a deluded, confessed murderer for "cleansing the gene pool."
Whether you are a loved one of someone on the sex offender registry or not, no rational person can truly believe that a hate-driven double-homicide is A) okay, or B) protecting children. Anyone who does should probably re-evaluate their own contribution to the "gene pool." Even ex-cop Brian O'Neill agrees, in his surprisingly frank column, Blue Byline.
I have just one last thing to say, and that is that I refuse to live in a world where the person I love is advertised day and night for the rest of his life as a potential target for vigilante justice. Fellow family members, let's not wait until one of our own is stolen from us to restore our right to keep our families safe and secure, and let's pray for the families of Jerry Ray and Gary Blanton, for whom it is too late.
I read the Blue Byline Column you linked. I have always commended you for your courage to speak out. I admit the author was polite and respectful in reply to your comment however... while your fiance is on the sex offender registration unfairly, (as most readily admit) even men who committed their offense as adults, and their families, should not be exposed to public reprisal and harrassment. Rudy 101 is absolutely accurate in his statements, which he can back up with research. "Mr. Blue" is just speaking from opinion.
ReplyDeleteShana - what's the best way to email you?
DeleteThanks Anon. I've yet to meet any law enforcement who will admit the registry needs to go. I attended a conference with a county sheriff not long ago, where the researcher was presenting his findings over a 21 year period that proved beyond doubt that the registry had not done anything to curb sex crime. We sat there for 3 hours and listened to all the ways it doesn't work... and at the end, the guy still kept saying it was necessary. My email is iloveanso@gmail.com
DeleteGreat job on this humane and inspiring post, Shana
ReplyDeleteI discovered your wonderful blog some time ago, and now I wonder why I didn't link it on my own blog, Monstermart. May I have your permission to do so now?
By the way, these vigilante murders carried extra significance for me because they happened very close to my home. In fact, a detective working on the case told me that Patrick Drum was coming to Quilcene next, where I live, to kill another. Whew!
Yes, of course, I welcome any publicity I can bring to this blog!
DeleteI live about as far away from Washington you can get, and still be in the same country, and it terrifies me just the same. I can't imagine if this had happened in my town or even in the same state. Glad you and your family are safe.
I just want to thank you for this blog. I too love a sex offender. We have been married for almost 7 years and we have an amaing 2 year old daughter. My husand's "crime" occurred when he was 14 years old and, while living in a group home, engaged in sexual activity with another resident of the group home. Both of them were children. He subsequently was charged and accepted a plea deal, which at the time, did NOT include a lifetime registration requirement - a penalty that was retroactively applied while he was carrying out his sentence in the California Youth Authority. It was not until he was released at the age of 20 that he was made aware he would have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Fortunately, in the state of California, juvenile offenses are not postable (meaning his face and our address do not show up on the website), however, law enforcement personnel have the right to notify anyone whom they think "needs to know." It is entirely arbitrary and up to the individual officers. Also, we have had officers show up at our door for "address verification" with a local news crew. The camera man lingered outside and luckily our faces did not end up on the evening news, but it was still a de facto notification for all of our neighbors. After all, it isn't very often that a camera man travels with officers on a routine call, especially not on a day that the featured story on the 5, 6, and 10 o'clock news is about "sex offender sweeps." Ugh! Anyway, I just want to thank you. I've returned to college in order to get a degree that may get me on the "inside" of the public policy process. Right now, I don't feel comfortable being "outed" but I am sure it is inevitable, especially since I want to create a lot of noise to make enormous changes. I am just trying to steel myself for that day. I think you and other SO family members are brave for putting your stories out there and for fighting against the tyranny of the current system and the ignorance of *some* members of the general public. I feel the day is coming when I can no longer be anonymous, and your blog - just by it being here - is helping to build my strength and resolve.
ReplyDeleteHi Anon. Sorry you and your family are suffering but glad you are here. Those "sex offender sweeps" are the worst...nothing more than a publicity stunt to justify the massive failure that is the registry, and distract the public from the fact that the success rate of these sweeps is almost always 0% or close to it. It's heartbreaking how our country is willing to throw you and your daughter under the bus (along with the rest of us) and call it "child safety", isn't it? If you are comfortable please feel free to email me directly at iloveanso@gmail.com. I can put you in touch with some good people :) -Shana
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