Some of us can appreciate a more vigilante approach to pedophiles. But what if that involves bludgeoning with a hammer instead of the swift justice of our over-burdened court system, and using the internet to find an address with intent to harm?
I’m a mother. Pedophiles irk me like no other group of humans ever could. Adulterers and thieves don’t even compare to how I feel when I hear about a child molester. One Alaskan man is taking punishment to a new level. Jason Vukovich, a self-styled “avenging angel”, went on a spree with a hammer, attacking several pedophiles after learning their addresses from the online sex offender registry.
The reason this is important is not because Vukovich is committed vigilante justice (which, we must say, is wrong, no matter how satisfying). But because information about all of us can be found online thanks to social media. I know for a fact that others who are not your “friends” on Facebook or Twitter are perfectly capable of finding your address to make threats. Or worse. Some even go so far as to pull all your information, share your phone number, and spread the information around.
I have been threatened…I don’t even know how many times. Some by Trump supporters angry that I won’t throw my support behind him. A few times by anarchists mad that I won’t burn a flag to prove I am a voluntaryist. And a few Clinton and Sanders supporters have mentioned to me that they could “find my address online” and even sent it to me as proof. Not to mention the military service member who wanted to take my guns because I don’t believe we should ban “assault weapons.”
There’s no way to prevent this with the current availability of information and I have no desire to hide my real name when I write. So it is what it is.
In rural Wyoming, where I live now, this is more difficult to accomplish. Since we all use P.O. boxes (there is no mail delivery service), tracking my address is harder, but I know it can still be done. I also live in the middle of nowhere. Literally. A trip here will be a pain in the rear for someone wishing to do me harm.
The best way to protect yourself, your children, and your property has always been with a gun. It’s not difficult to understand this, and I’m not trying to defend any pedophiles here (they can’t legally own guns anyway in most states). I’m simply making a point that anyone, at any time, can find your address if they want to.
The important thing is to be safe and protect yourself. Not all of us live in states where we can carry whenever and wherever we want. Obviously, threats don’t really scare me. I block on Facebook (as if that does anything) and move on. I’m not going to live my life afraid, but I am also not going to go to bed without a pistol and a shotgun close by.
The point is this: bring a gun to any fight.