I want to believe that one day, young women won’t be raised to constantly look over their shoulders for the rapist lurking in the bushes, or deep inside a friend or lover.
No, I don’t want to believe it, I have to.
I have to believe that some day, women’s bodies won’t be considered public property and their risky actions won’t be considered a license to harm. That will be the same day our concept of masculinity will stop being about control and lack of empathy.
Until that glorious day, let’s at least have a justice system that takes sexual assault seriously.
The good news on that front is the federal government is strengthening the sex offender registry.
The changes would mean all convicted sex offenders would be included in the registry automatically and police would be allowed to search the registry when hoping to prevent a sex crime, rather than only after a crime has been committed.
“Almost half the sex offenders escape the registry. That is not acceptable,” said Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan.
Amen brother, Amen.
Comments