On “Sex Offenders”

No one likes a sex offender- and there are a whole collection of state and federal laws that indicate as much, ranging from stiff sentences to restrictions on where such registered offenders can live. Fine. That doesn’t bother me. I can understand society’s interest in protecting, in particular, children, from certain types of  sex offenders who show a depressing rate of recidivism. As a result of this deep and legitimate concern, however, our collection of sex offender laws have become draconian and self-defeating. They’ve become Draconian because they have been extended to cover “crimes”  that either should not be crimes in the first place or, even if they merit prohibition, the perps are by no means “sex offenders” (in any way outside of the ridiculously broad statutory definition). When you find out that someone is a “sex offender”, what is your immediate reaction? Mine, at least until recently, was a minor level of revulsion followed by a general desire not to associate with them. Be careful, though, because you might be a sex offender if….