FAQ
Q: A registered sex offender has just moved into my neighborhood. I hate to think about him so close by, and it's been causing a lot of distress for the community. Isn't there something we can do?
A: Pay attention; be vigilant with your kids and your self. Teach your kids what they need to know to make informed decisions. Call 911 or your local law enforcement if you feel anything is out of line. Allow them to live in peace: better in a house with a fence where he/she can be watched, than in an apartment next door to a single parent, or homeless in the parking lot of the local playground. Registered offenders have been caught and punished - don't be so distracted by their presence that you forget about the much greater threat of the undetected predator.
Q: What's up with Jack [McClellan, of stegl infamy] ?
A: Jack McClellan appears to be a mentally ill individual who craves public attention. We deplore his website and his message, and advise him to seek counseling. Aside from Jack's misuse of the word 'consent,' his website appears to be within current law. We are exploring methods of changing current law to give parents and individuals more control over how their image, or their children's images, are used.
Q: How can websites like ____ be legal? Q: What can we do to protect our kids from predators like this?
A: An image taken in public, of something or someone that is also in public, is the property of the person who took the picture. If someone has asked you for permission to take a picture of you or your child, or to use a picture of your child that they've already taken, then they are performing a courtesy, not following law. As to the content - First Amendment rights. So long as he doesn't encourage others to break the law, or break a law himself, the reprehensible content is fully allowed.
A: Use your cell phone and take a picture of anyone who is taking pictures of your kids, or acting in a manner you find inappropriate or threatening. Tell them you don't want them to take pictures of your kids, and ask them what they intend to do with the pictures. If you don't get the results you want, then take your kids and find a staff member or security guard. If you feel threatened, contact security or the police immediately.
Q: What CAP is doing is really important. What can I do to help?
A: Check out our Shop & Support and our Support Legislation pages. Talk about it. Let your friends, family, and community know that an effort is being made on behalf of parents and children, and that everyone's voice, raised together, can get the attention of the folks in Olympia, or even in DC.
Find out from your kids' schools what their policies are regarding attendance at school functions, what their district-wide safety curricula consists of, and let them know about our organization. Email us if you'd like to to be a go-to person for your school district or community. We really need strong volunteers and contributors from every region of Washington, and we need suggestions, ideas, and feedback from every community in the state.
Q: What happened to "Stranger Danger"?
A: "Stranger Danger" doesn't work. Not only does it not work, it can actually make things worse. There are a few reasons for this:
- The vast majority of times that a child is victimized, the culprit is a family member or a close family friend. Not a stranger.
- Stranger abductions are extraordinarily rare. Of 52,000 child abductions on average each year, less than 150 of the abductors are strangers.
- If your kid is separated from you in a crowded venue, he or she needs to feel comfortable approaching a stranger for help.
Instead of focusing on "Stranger Danger", read through our Essentials.