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Maven said:
Again, I'm not sympathizing with a pedophile, and I haven't heard of any victims who truly get over it, but if I'm understanding some of you correctly, you're saying you did overcome it.

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I haven't overcome issues from the incest or rapes I endured. I have related panic attacks, nightmares, phobias, and dissociations.

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Maven said:
If a victim can overcome the abuse, and if an offender doesn't re-offend (as high as the recidivism rate is, there is a possibility of someone not offending again), why should his whole life be spent in punishment?

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Maven . . . you have a valid question . . . but I believe they should be locked up their whole lives . . . because:

Because . . . we cannot look into the hearts and minds of such criminals. They all say they are sorry and won't do it again. Because . . . the only effective tool we have is prison. Drug therapies and behavior modification are no reliable treatments for them. Because . . . we must protect children.

I know my opinion is biased. Yes, lock up all child sex offenders indefinitely. However, I would support release from prison if they willingly had a lobotomy.

My pedophile-rapist promised never to do "it" again when I was about 13 years old. However, all during my teenage years he made sexually provocative jokes to me. He'd beg me to dress up sexy and go out with him on dates. Every hug, he'd feel up my body. When I was about 24 years old (still living at home), I caught him peeping through a hole in the door at my naked body while in the bathroom. He found Jesus and "repented" and asked my forgiveness. He loved going to church to see this beautiful 16 years old girl. He'd perk up every time and get excited talking to her, just as he'd do with me. I realized then the possibility of him hurting other children, yet I had no tangible evidence. He now has a pastor's license and regularly conducts sermons for his church . . . little kids look up to him. I wanted to forgive him and believe he'd not hurt a kid. Until . . . I saw him 2 years ago . . . he gave a gift and hug to this little girl maybe 3 years old. He was perky and focused all his energy on what that little girl was doing, yet he was supposed to be socializing with his adult friends. Still, I have no proof he hurt that little girl or any other child . . . but I have my instincts and I would bet everything he has erections every time he is around that child.

The question is . . . should we allow people like my father out in society . . . free and able to hurt a child??? He and other perverts promise they won't ever do it again.