Mark Lunsford was a sex offender at the time his daughter, Jessica, was abducted, raped and murdered. There was child pornography on his computer. Anyone who doubts the validity of that claim need only look at the pretrial motions and see that the judge in the Couey trial agreed to keep out any mention of the material.

We live in a climate of hate and distrust and people believe that it is impossible to change. Once a sex offender, always a sex offender is a common quote. That would mean that Lunsford probably as child porn on his computer now.

I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he has changed in a world where that is said to be impossible. If he has discovered that to be a myth then he has an obligation to shout it to the world. Backtracking on Jessica’s rabid laws and revamping them toward prevention and rehabilitation would be necessary with this newly discovered knowledge.

First, Mr. Lunsford must pay his own debt to society and, the same as all offenders; he will also be punished for the death of Jessica. That is unfortunate since only one man killed this precious child but it is also reality.

If local police are not willing to do their job in prosecuting this case perhaps everyone should file complaints with the feds.

There is no sentence harsh enough for the likes of Couey. We can send him to his grave but we cannot pursue him beyond the grave to inflict further punishment. And we have never had laws that gave incentive for leaving a child alive. In fact, we have laws that ask for the death penalty whether or not a child is left alive. Excuse me if I don’t jump up and down over this but it’s insane. The killing of a child has become a bonus with no additional punishment required.

We have tried everything in these situations except working together. I was an abused child and, as an adult, had many questions. For the last several years I have worked with hundreds of former sex offenders, their families, professionals in the field and many others who see that we are headed in the wrong direction. We deal with one-time convictions and our recidivism rate is ZERO! Some have had a clear record for 30 years.

When Jessica disappeared we all cried together and prayed for her safe return. When she was found we grieved with the rest of the world. However, our grieving period was cut short as all offenders were looked at as Couey’s. I can assure you that they are not/ I can also assure you that your hatred is destroying many thousands of innocent children. I have seen them tossed out of their homes just days before Christmas and with no place to go. I have seen your residency restrictions lead to the murder of Christopher Barrios in Georgia. There is no proof that registration or any of the other high priced gimmicks have saved a single child but there is ample proof that it has destroyed many.

I am well aware that we live in a society where the only children that are important are white and named Megan, Jessica or Adam. In their names you commit your own horrific acts and feel good about it. Do you know what is really sad here? I do not believe for one minute that Megan, Jessica or Adam would approve of how their deaths are being so misused. But they were just kids so who cares how they would feel. Right? Right.

Shirley Lowery

www.sosen.org