Child molestation

In colonial America, public hangings were often attended by thousands of people, and Puritan authorities used the high drama of the gallows to build community consensus, shape the social order and legitimize their power. Capital offenses included idolatry, witchcraft, willful murder, bestiality, homosexuality, adultery, stealing another’s slave, committing perjury in the courtroom, and being a traitor by actively undermining the Puritan social order. Some organized groups in our area wish that they could turn back the clock to the 17th century and the criminal justice system of that time.

For some odd reason, there is no mention of a penalty for child abuse or child molestation.

Recently, in the Eaton County Circuit Court, in Charlotte, Michigan, Randall Margraves, the father of three daughters who were molestation victims of Dr. Larry Nassar, was physically tackled by sheriff’s deputies before he was able to put his hands and primal wrath on Dr. Nassar. I have no doubt that the enraged father would have choked the life out of Nassar if he hadn’t been stopped.

As a father, with a young daughter, who strongly believes in the dignity and respect for all people, I know that I would have attempted the very same thing. Would that make me a hypocrite? Would that make me look like a bad father, for showing how I really felt about what happened to my daughters?? Why would that father’s reaction, being in the same room with the man who groomed and sexually molested his daughters, surprise anyone?

James Perkins

Colville