I have a very heavy heart this morning after learning the body found in a Georgia landfill is indeed that of 7 year old Somer Thompson who disappeared walking home from school near Jacksonville, Florida. While authorities are trying to solve this murder, the community is on alert because a child killer is on the loose. I cannot imagine the horror Somer’s family is experiencing after losing their precious little angel.

Even though most people see children as blessings, there are monsters who sadly see them as “prey”. While we cannot put our children in bubbles (although as sick as this world is, I wish we could), what we can do is make sure to educate them on safety. As parents, we need to be aware of our surroundings and set up alerts from The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW), coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice, to know when sexual predators move into our area.

Sit down with your children and review these child safety tips on preventing abduction. It is a scary subject to discuss; however, don’t you prefer to educate your children now instead of becoming another statistic? Awareness can help your children protect themselves.

In this cruel world we live in, it is vital for parents to familiarize themselves with sexual predators in their area and to educate their children on what to do if a stranger approaches them.  I knew I had to blog about this disgusting topic after hearing the recent story in Orlando, Florida, Booking error to blame for man’s release. Thankfully, the little girl in this situation knew how to respond to such a threat, so she was one of the lucky ones! The only way we can safeguard our children is by being aware.

I find The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) to be extremely useful and have set-up email alerts from this site.  This particular website is maintained by the United States Department of Justice.  Perform an advance search and enter your zip code.  Not only will you receive a list of offenders (if there are any), but you can also see their photos and read detailed information regarding their convictions. Study the faces of these individuals so you are able to recognize them if they ever cross your path.  

Family Watchdog is another terrific resource.  Again, perform a search with your zip code and the site produces a map of your general area. There is an easy-to-follow color coded legend which outlines the offenders’ home and work addresses as well as their offenses.  Sign up for email alerts so you are aware if there are any changes for your area!  

My heart goes out to the families that have endured such agonizing experiences such as Jessica Lunsford.  This little girl’s rapist and murderer was a previously convicted sexual offender, yet he was not in prison where he belongs.  Our judicial system is way too lenient on these animals!   I whole heartedly support Mark Lunsford’s efforts with Jessica’s Law and pray it passes! Jessica’s Law supports a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in a penitentiary in addition to a lifetime electronic monitoring for adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against victims under the age of 12.

For those interested in supporting Mark Lunsford’s efforts, you can read more at the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation website.