Pedophilia: Mental Illness or not?

Having sex with a child is considered by most to be a sick and twisted behavior. The very thought of such a vile activity can invoke extreme feelings of anger and disgust in people, only to be compounded by the weak and very small punishments sometimes assigned to the people convicted of it. There has been much research done on this “disorder”, but still psychologists are no closer to a cure. They don’t know the cause, and in my mind that would have to come first to obtain a cure.

Is a person who faces multiple failures in relationships more prone to such behavior? Does a person who lacks assertion in their personality create the motive to feel powerful, and assert their dominance on the weak and vulnerable? Is it a chemical imbalance that is present that interferes with normal development? Or is it just Society’s way of coping with it.

Robbing a bank, murder, and assault are all crimes that involve some form of dominance. There is a goal, a need, and involves varying degrees of violence. Though the sexual aspect is not prevalent in these crimes, it must be noted that some have expressed that the activity and resulting rush “was better than sex”. But a bank robber is not considered mentally ill just because of the crime. Yet a person that sexually abuses a child or minor “must” be mentally ill, for we do not consider that act possible for a sane person.

Again, is that Society trying to rationalize it?

Not guilty by reason of insanity is a defense commonly used in court to defend against a heinous crime. Though the person can never have displayed any signs of it before, all of a sudden they are ill. And we are asked to believe that. Something in the human mind snapped, they are not responsible for their actions as a result. Hogwash. Killing your spouses lover in a fit of anger is not insanity, it’s rage. Anger is a normal human emotion, some people can control it better than others. Just as there are differences in how people handle financial difficulties. Some get a second job or retraining to better themselves and demand a higher salary. Some rob banks. Why some choose the latter does not mean some type of mental illness is involved.

Scientists and psychologists have been studying this issue for a long time, but are still no closer to determining the cause, or developing a cure. Yet knowing that fact convicted pedophiles are still treated by the courts as victims, and sentenced accordingly. Would you consider Pedophilia as a sexual orientation, like homosexuality? Believe it or not this guy does.

Once convicted part of the “punishment” is that the convicted pedophile may not reside within 1000-2000 feet of a school or daycare. Distances may vary from state to state. And they are all just as ludicrous as the next. How is that possibly going to stop it from happening again? Most likely they did not live that close in the first place. On-line luring of child is predominant in many cases, and we have seen shows where the potential perps show up to meet a supposed child for sex, only to meet the police or TV cameras.

Those caught in that situation should be facing prison time, just as a bank robber getting caught with a gun entering a bank would be. That the “crime” was not committed should have no bearing, the intent was there. The Charter of Rights is there to protect individuals from criminal or social wrongs. It is not there as a means of defense. Once a crime has been committed, or the attempt was there, the same rights enjoyed by the rest of Society should not apply.

There is no question that mental illness exists and is a very serious problem for many. And there is also no doubt that people suffering from various forms of this disease need help. But this should not involve putting the rest of Society at risk.

This is a case of a mentally ill person committing a crime, and the resulting punishment is actually a treatment. Society will benefit from this, as will the individual. Releasing a convicted pedophile back into Society is not the same thing.

So why are they treated that way?

Please take the time to convince our Governments to change how these criminals are handled, and better protect our young. How many more children have to be raped or murdered before we stop tolerating this behavior?

Sign this petition