Hi Jon,

This was a hard one for me to even think about, let alone form an opinion about. I was molested at the age of 4. I was raped later, at 12. In both cases, these perpetrators were underage themselves. Yes, it caused me problems. But I don't hate them. And I don't want them DEAD. Definitely not dead.

What we need to do is to work with people who do this. I am not willing to have the death on my hands because I was violated. That puts too much on ME. There is something wrong with them, not with me. And punishing them will not help them nor stop this. As a victim, I think I have a right to say something of what becomes of them. I don't want to punish them. I want them to heal. To be functional members of society. I don't know if it's possible, but we should TRY. If they can heal I might be able to, actually.

Reconciliation is possible in SOME cases, and should be tried - in some cases.

But other than that, if people who do this can see how it's affected the lives of those who were violated it might have the same effect.

Punishment is really not a salve in this case. It doesn't help the victim, who often needs to understand why they were violated. In our Constitution, we have a right to face our accuser, but we also have a right to confront the person who violated us. I think that, in many case those who would change their willingness to abuse again. At least it would give those of us who were violated a kind of closure - so we could get on with our lives.

I'm dealing with incredible smoke here, living in Santa Cruz. Big Sur is almost totally engulfed. I have Alpacas and may have to evacuate them (again).

Please consider what I have said. As a survivor of molestation and rape, I think I have a right to have a voice.

Joy in Santa Cruz

~~"Damned right (I'm an agitator). An agitator is the center pole in a washing machine.  It gets the dirt out! That's a good thing!"   Jim Hightower (paraphrased)