Home > Duluth.Talk > Archives > 2008 > April > 23 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTime to do more to catch child predators
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
William Carter Gorman of Lawrenceville, a pharmacist, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison for collecting child pornography.
US District Judge Timothy Batten ordered him to be supervised the rest of his life after he is released from prison, and to have no more contact with persons younger than 18. He also must register as a sex offender. Additionally, he faces child molestation charges in Gwinnett County.
Apparently, the U.S. Postal Service was running a sting operation that advertised the sale of videotapes showing child pornography, and Gorman was one of many who answered the ad and purchased some videotapes.
Have you seen the TV show, “To Catch a Predator,” on Dateline NBC? Chris Hansen, the reporter, sets up stings in which people on the Internet think they are chatting with an underage girl. They arranged to meet, and Hanson is there, with cameras, to capture the whole humiliating incident, including their eventual arrest.
When I first saw the show, my first thought was, “Man, these people are stupid.” Then my thoughts quickly rolled into how sick these people are, and how easy it was for them to act upon the predatory instincts. Of the people that got caught, how many didn’t? How many got away?
Children are exploited in Third World countries, often sold into slavery — pornographic or otherwise — oftentimes because their sale means more money to their parents, money that they would not otherwise have access to.
It wasn’t so long ago here in the US — 100 years — when our children are put out in the street at ages 6, 7, 8. Their parents couldn’t take care of them, so it was time for them to earn their keep. They moved out into the street, worked in factories, sold newspapers, lacking education, lacking parental support.
This period in our history is one reason why public education was started. To get kids off the street and to help them develop opportunities previously unavailable to them.
How sad it is, then, to see how the level of predation has gone from manual labor to sexual gratification. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry. And it’s unnerving, to me, to see how easy it can be to exploit our children.
Friends and neighbors, keep an eye on what your children do on the Internet. It’s not because we don’t trust them.
It is because we know how exposed and vulnerable they can be to someone who lacks the morals and scruples requisite to caring for our most precious resource. Involve yourself in their lives, and their schools, in their libraries, and in the public venues that we all share and enjoy. We may not be able to eradicate this problem.
But we can sure as hell reduce the number of victims available to these predators.
Permalink | Comments (45) | Post your comment | Categories: Bill Allen
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By Mark
April 23, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Child predators, if convicted, should be put down. Simple as that. Time to weed the garden folks.
By J
April 23, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Perhaps the article should point out that 95% of all child-molestations happen due to a relative, neighbor, or some other person close to the child on a daily basis. Fewer than 5% of child-molestations are due to “predators”. If you don’t believe that, ask any police officer or try doing some research instead of simply echoing what TV shows portrey.
By Tim
April 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Without getting all vigilante, seems like we could take some evidence, check for predator DNA in places where it couldn’t get without something illegal going on, then try the person in court, and if found guilty just put a 50 cent bullet in their brain. What possible reason would we have to keep one of these genetic nightmares alive?
By John
April 23, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Parents, law enforcement, schools, churches, and communities have to come together to fight the growing problem of child predation. Danger awareness education is a key component to making children less vulnerable. Organizations like the Kid-Safe Network are committed to making this happen. [www.rivervalleykidsafe.com]
By Tim
April 24, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
If child molesters were given a lethal injection (or a nice grouping pattern to the chest)on the first offense every single time, there would be no tax money going to house and feed them, and no second offenses. As Mark said, “Time to weed the garden folks.”
By G
April 24, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
There is no way I will EVER understand how people prey on children. I know the person in the above mentioned article and have for a very long period of time. It makes me sick every minute of every day. He destroyed countless lives for his own self gratification. How do you protect your children from a “supposed” trusted member of the community? That is why they are called predators - no one would ever believe that he was exactly that - A predator. To this day - people still think he was “entrapped” - It will sicken me for days to come. I can only hope and pray his victims will find a way to move on with their lives and no longer be his victim.
By L
April 25, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this
Child predation is not a growing problem. It’s been around forever. Look at the documenation on the Greeks and Romans preference for children. Adultry is in the 10 Commandments but Child Molestation isn’t. It was accepted then. There has always been people who prey on children and unfortunately, there will always be.
At least, that’s what I was told by the police detective after my 6 year old was molested in her school bathroom. The detective did everything to prove that it didn’t happen in school even blaming it on my 4 year old son after 5 doctors said it was an adult male who attacked her. It was more about saving the school’s rep than looking for the guy who did it. Even after he stalked us all summer, the detective didn’t listen.
But that was 10 years ago and a few states away. Now I get the sexual offender updates from Community Watch and as I walk my neighborhood, I tell my neighbors if a predator has moved in closed to our subdivision and where the predator is. If a 6 year old doesn’t have to take a rape kit test because I warned her parents, then life is good.
Sorry J, your fewer than 5% means nothing to me. Every child needs to be safe from every predator whether they know them or not.
By G
April 25, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
L, I agree with you the 5% means nothing and I don’t believe that 95% or predators were preyed upon as a child- Some, maybe - but the one I knew wasn’t - it was a choice of his own doing - he’s sick - there is NO DOUBT about that. He has at least the next 10yrs to think about that.
We should go to whatever lengths we need - to protect our children. That is our sole responsibility. Go with that feeling in the pit of your stomach - if something doesn’t sound right - Again, this is how they prey on our children - they gain not only our trust but the trust of our children. I will spend every day - making sure that the one child predator I came into contact with - never lives a quiet day - if he is ever released.
By Katie
April 25, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Why can’t their weenies be surgically removed? Sexual predators should never be released from prison. Even if they do their time, they will still desire children and we can’t change that.
By Tim
April 25, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Keep asking yourself: Why feed and house them? POW! No second timers, no long list to keep up with, no screwed up genetics to get passed along, just kill them. Why would we have a sentence called “Life without Parole”? Child molesters have proven they are not reformable. If we lined them up and sent them like a heard of cattle into a meat grinder, then on to a conveyor belt to a fertilizer factory, we would at least get something positive out of the deal and help farmers with cheap fertilizer. Kids would feel safer, not so many adults feeling like they were at fault for what happened. The world would be a brighter/greener place to live. Time for a group hug. (Adults only)
By KenS
April 25, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Well written Bill.
I don’ think they should be killed… I think they should be raped in prison and beaten to within an inch of their pathetic lives… They should be humiliated in society to the point where they want to just do it [pulling the trigger] themselves.
5% is too high.
We can’t get rid of the roaches, but we can protect our kids inside the home. Knowledge is power. You can’t be a 21st century parent without knowing full well what your kid is doing online. Monitoring software like PC Pandora can help parents attain that knowledge. This ain’t your parents’ upbringing anymore…
By Fack
April 27, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
can we get a tasteful subject in here please?
By Fack is a dumbass
April 28, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
I see Fack is one of those ‘sweep it under the carpet and it didn’t happen’ type of people. Can’t deal with the subject of child predators and would rather talk about pansies or little soft beanie baby toys. If you don’t think the topic of child predators is an important one then move along now.. shoo shoo shoo!!!
By JD Eliot
April 28, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Dealing with child predators as on the TV show mentioned or in police sweeps only drives the predator underground.
The source of pedaephilia is our societies’ Calvinist and Victorian suppression of normal sexual exploration by children. Any child who passed through the normal stages of curiosity and experimentation but is suppressed, made to feel “dirty,” or guilty, or punished will inevitably release their drive at a later date, often dangerously and at the expense of the innocent.
If you want to stop child molestation and excitement over “taboo porn,” look into the ways we raise our children in modern society.
Indigenous societies don’t have these “problems”.
By Fack
April 28, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Good god I have seen enough, Bill- you are a friggin moron. Try a subject that isn’t disgusting and brings out all the disgusting people. This IS NOT the sort of thing we like to read about in Duluth, especially since it’s not newsworthy. You would do well to live in duluth or at least visit it once in awhile. Your articles and all of your commentary are unessesarily out of touch with this city.
By Fack is a dumbass
April 29, 2008 5:52 AM | Link to this
Fack, isn’t the runaway bride from Duluth?? talk about disgusting people. You have one as your neighbor. So, remind us again why this blog is a poor one?
By woodie
April 29, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
I should point out he was caught with porn and not engaging in porn. That’s a huge difference. They should have charged the people creating and distributing the porn. That’s like throwing all the drug addicts in jail and not the pushers. I’m not impressed by this particular case. It’s one of those “what if” convictions.
By Fack
April 29, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Do you live here? Then I have two disgusting neighbors. Lovely.
By Katie
April 30, 2008 5:57 AM | Link to this
Fack, did you know that there’s sexual predators living in Duh-luth or are comfortable with the wool being pulled over your eyes? Wouldn’t you like to know who these people are? It may be your direct neighbor. These sexual predators should be cast out from society.
By Katie
April 30, 2008 6:05 AM | Link to this
JD, good point. However, you’ll find in many other cultures and ‘indigenous societies’ that it is culturally acceptable for girls (11, 12 or 13) to be married to older men and have children. So, they don’t have the same ‘problems’ we do because they accept that older men will wed and have sex with very young girls.
By Fack
April 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
wow there are some really sick people in here, Bill- you started a real loser again with this one. Let’s see about getting you off the Duluth page.
By Tim
April 30, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Yes, and Muslims are a great example. Their spiritual leader Muhammed married a 6 year old girl and consummated the marriage when she was 9. When the leader of the World’s largest religion is a child molester, and everyone continues to strive for political correctness, these things will continue to happen. One bullet 10 minutes after trial will solve the problem permanently. At least for one person.
By Mark
April 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
What’s black and blue, and hates sex?
The 12 yr old in my trunk.
By Jester
May 1, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Fack,
If you are uncomfortable with this subject, and it is interesting that you are, you don’t have to read about it. Find some other blog that serves up warm and fuzzies for people with their heads in the sand, like yourself.
By Jais AAA Duluth
May 2, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Bill- you want to get off your dumbass and help this town once in awhile, stroke boy? You’re a writer for this town so act like it. There’s talk about preserving the strickland house and it seems they lack support. Support you could be rallying with THIS BLOG which…if i am reading correctly it seems people are not too happy about.
I agree with the above poster, Bill Allen is seriously retarded when it comes to doing his job. AJC staffers, can we get a better and more capable writer on this page?
By Get Real
May 2, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Jais,
WTF are you talking about you stupid a*****? You don’t have any clue what is going on. Keep your b****** up and I will stop that a*, b***!
By Bill Allen
May 2, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Get Real- you need to control yourself before I have you turned into the authorities.
By Get Real
May 2, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Just try it, moron. I’ll kick your azz into next week
By Get Real
May 2, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
Who is using my blog name?
By Jester
May 2, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Get Real,
So glad you’re back. I missed your witty banter. Care to provide us with another of your little pearls of wisdom?
By Get Real
May 2, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Scuttle- to purposefully sink a vessel or ship by opening otherwise water-tight hatches and flooding the interior with water, either to dispose of the vessel or to preserve it’s secrets.
By Jester
May 2, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
Check it out! He’s already up to “S” in his dictionary!
By Bill Allen
May 2, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on a minute.
Someone’s using my name here, and that’s not cool. I’m not going to turn anyone into any authority for exercising their First Amendment rights. To what authority would I hand them over? And for what reason?
We don’t do that in America, and anyone using my name to suggest that I think otherwise…. It’s just wrong. Whoever that was, please don’t do that again.
Jais - Fair criticism. I started writing about Corman, and because it happened in Lawrenceville, close to home, I thought it was relevant. In the process of discussing a powerful topic, my train of thought got derailed. Thanks for the reminder.
By Counseler
May 3, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Any adult who engages in any type of sexual conduct with a child should be harshly punished, barring a few exceptions such as when an 18 year old is dating a 17 year old and such.
But I can only laugh at the broad strokes so many politicians and citizens paint when it comes to this problem.
Do you know that in Georgia two seventeen year olds can engage in sex, but if one takes a picture of the other in a “lewd” pose, then he or she is guilty of child exploitation? Minimum 5 years to serve under federal law.
And a survey of punishment statewide for these types of noncrimes shows prosecutors and judges agreeing to sentences ranging from misdemeanor probation charges to 10 year mandatory felony sentences. Has anyone ever heard of due process and EQUAL protection under the constitution?
My point is that broad strokes simply do not apply in these situations. State Sen. Jerry Keen has pushed successfully to pass a host of child predatory laws that have done far more damage to the innocent than retribution to the guilty.
For those of you with the broad brushes and primevil views of retribution, BEWARE your son or daughter could be next unwary trapped by the very thinking you so ignorantly display on these comment pages.
By Jais AAA Duluth
May 3, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Glad to see some sense around here. BILL- Idea for next blog: is Duluth still overdeveloping?
By Get Real
May 3, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
I just want to come out of the closet, and let you all know I’m gay. Maybe that wil explain my opinions.
By Jester
May 4, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
I don’t like this blog because I’m a sex offender.
By Jester
May 5, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
Well, I see some moron is spoofing my screen name. Nice try. Whoever you are (and I have an idea who), grow up and use your real screen name, rather than issue bogus attacks from “behind the petticoats of your anonymity”. Trying to make me look bad by faking my screen name shows that perhaps you have something to hide, you immature idiot.
By Jester
May 5, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I wouldn’t insult my own intelligence by using your name you little punk. I would be worried that someone would figure it out and actually think that I am somehow as ignorant as you.
By Jester
May 5, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
getreal,
I have tried before to save you from yourself by asking you to find another blog to submit your pithy comments to. What you fail to understand is that you have nothing of value to contribute here. Your attempts to make a mockery of this blog subject are getting old. Your new trick of spoofing the screen names of others is tired.
I have developed a profile of you from reading your posts. While it is by no means complete, I feel like I’ve come close to the mark. I think that you are probably a short man who was picked on alot as a kid. Now that you are an adult (I use that term loosely) you validate your own pathetic existence by belittling anyone you can. And you probably feel that as long as you can do it anonymously, you don’t have to suffer the same repercussions that you no doubt suffered at the hands of those you thought were friends. I think that counseling would do you alot of good reconciling the feelings of hostility you project with your own inadequacies.
Please seek help. Leave these people alone. Find another blog.
What was it you said to me in an earlier post? Oh, yeah….”You are dismissed”.
By Get Real
May 6, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
I find it hilarious that you have a profile of me when the last five posts with this name weren’t me. Whoever my doppleganger is, hats off to you. I approve of this behavior.
By Jester
May 6, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
And still I feel that the profile is most likely accurate.
By Get Real
May 7, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
hahaha it’s ATTACK OF THE CLONES
By Get Real
May 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
QUICK- where’s the Bill Allen clone, I need backup!
By mike
May 17, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
wow, just how pretentious do you have to be to call into question over a 100 million years of human evolution?..Nature itself dictates that 13-14 is old enough to proceate. Not to menton that is was only a few generations back that people were getting married at 14, if you dont like it tough s**.