I've had one poster try to use this forum for vigilante purposes on pedophile Dennis Ferguson, so I'm posting this comment from Greg Barns for feedback.

The Today Show has a responsibility - having given this morning ample and sympathetic coverage to the lynch mob of Carbrook which is protesting against convicted sex offender Dennis Fergusson being in their community -to remind viewers of some vital facts that could help to prevent the murder or at least infliction of a serious assault on Dennis Fergusson.

The vigilantes of Carbrook are out in force, even producing a hangman’s rope last night at a public meeting in which Queensland Police Minister Judy Spence gave new meaning to the phrase ‘entering the lion’s den.’

The views of Carbrook residents, given airplay this morning by the Today program, are simply, let’s not mince words here, ignorant and hysterical.

Why doesn’t the Today Show assist in seeking to eradicate the lynch mob mentality of Carbrook by laying facts, rather than emotion, on the table.

And what are these facts?

Well, for starters, the rate of re-offending by sex offenders is low, between 5 to 14 percent – it is 50 percent in the case of property crimes. As one of the world’s leading researcher in this area, Karl Hanson from Public Safety Canada observes, “The observed rate of sexual offenders' recidivism is much lower than commonly believed.”

Second, it is far more likely that child sex abuse crimes will be perpetrated by a member of the victim’s family than by a stranger.

Thirdly, if a community or individual wants to increase the possibility that a sex offender will re-offend, then destabilising their mental state will do the trick. The lynch mob of Carbrook is behaving in just such a way towards Mr Ferguson.

It is time the media stopped egging on ignorance and prejudice in Queensland.

aah.. Graham asks

"Why doesn’t the Today Show assist in seeking to eradicate the lynch mob mentality of Carbrook by laying facts, rather than emotion, on the table."

very simple.. "facts" are selected for maximum commercial effect.

Like politics.. its not about being fair, its about power.(money)

Alright, let's move him in next door and gamble the stats for re-offending on Greg's kids. I'll come back and discuss ignorance and prejudice after that happens.

How many people would volunteer to gamble the lives of their kids on it?.

....and the 'vigilante' with the 'noose' was a 15 year old kid with his mates shinning it up for the cameras.....the 'noose' was some string.

Where we you when they were asking for someone to take him on board?. They end up having to pay someone a thousand dollars a day to do it.

"It is time the media stopped egging on ignorance and prejudice in Queensland."

Only Queensland?

Of course the media eggs on ignorance and prejudice. It's their stock in trade as well as their consumer base. If people were informed and objective they'd hardly be watching the Today Show. If the citizens of Carbrook were sitting around having an informed and civilised discussion of the issue there'd be no sensationalist footage to boost advertising revenue during the coverage. Hopefully the good citizens of Carbrook will rush out to buy said advertised products and provide some justification for all this nonsense.

Nonsense?...

"Dennis Ferguson is an Australian child sex offender who in 1987 kidnapped three children from their home and raped them over a period of three days. Later, one of the children became suicidal and all required long-term counselling. He was convicted of kidnapping, sodomy, gross indecency, indecent dealing and carnal knowledge the following year. In 1989, the Brisbane Supreme Court sentenced Ferguson to 14 years in jail, saying that his chance of rehabilitation was 'nil'.

In 2003, Ferguson was released from jail, and eight months later was found to be living in Miles, Queensland, with a 17-year-old girl. The girl was removed, and Ferguson was also charged with having separately molested two girls, aged 4 and 5, since his release. He had also taken a job selling cleaning products to schools, and failed to inform police of his potential contact with children as required by law.

He rented a house in Murgon, 270 km north of Brisbane, just one block from a child care centre. Protesters forced him to flee. He then sought refuge in Ipswich but was forced out again. The town of Narangba forced him out also, along with several other towns.

Ferguson is currently residing in Carbrook, Queensland."

Again...nonsense?.

Dear Graham,

I don't know what should be done with men like Dennis Ferguson,
who seem to keep on re-offending with sex offences.

What I do know is - the Media must bear some of the
responsibility for the hysteria of the small township
in Queensland - that wants him to leave - or worse.

I saw the people of that town on television, and they
appeared extremely emotional.

That man would not last very long in that town.

What I don't understand is, if he's a repeat offender -
why do they release him, when its
only a question of time before he offends again?

Dennis Ferguson is surely not the only one with a problem
such as this. What is to be done with these people?
Shouldn't our Society should be looking at long-term
solutions to this problem, instead of - shipping it out
to rural areas, in the hope that "It'll be right!"

As this case proves, it won't be right at all