But it’s also like a calculated risk imho.
For instance, I’m not going to Walmart after 10 pm because my risk factor of something happening to me goes up. Same for driving after midnight. We as parents have to become aware that predators seek opportunities to be near kids. That means, churches, schools,camps, etc.
The risk went up for Cupcake, imho, because of where she lived, because she was alone, and because it was dark.
Kids need to be kids I agree, but with boundaries. That’s why they have graduated drivers licenses nowadays, and curfews in cities, and ages for when its acceptable for kids to be left home alone.
I also think if we went back to the good ole days when you could stay out all day in the neighborhood, you would find that there are probably many cases of unreported molestation and assault. But it was a different time, and not discussed, and not reported. Just MOO.
You are correct.
Pedophiles have been striking most likely since the beginning of time. We learn about them much quicker now because of the internet, and the national media.
Although all do not get national news coverage either, and have to be found in local newspapers or local online outlets across the country in every state.
I will admit due to my own childhood abuses I went through myself for many years, I became an overly protective helicopter mother of our five children.
Then I realized I was smothering them stunting their freedom they all deserved. Their dad, and I knew they were all good kids we trusted explicitly. So with much hesitation I began to let them play out of my sight since we lived in a very safe rural area.
Today I realize how truly lucky we were that none of them were ever harmed or taken by pedophiles, because I know now predators are everywhere at any given time, and always have been
No rural area or community, town, or city is immune from predators, no matter how we like to pretend if we live in what is called a safe area. There is no place like that anymore.
It can happen in a blink of an eye in poor areas, middle class or upscale areas, and every other place in between.
I do firmly feel the targeted children will become younger. While Cupcakes age is an anomaly now, there will be more taken of her tender age. Imo. Although we really dont know if other 3 year olds have already been kidnapped by predators, and can only be located in local areas.
There are so many young children still missing, never located, and until we know what happened to all of them, and who the offenders are with all of the cases solved we really are in the dark of how many offenders are strangers.
Same goes for all of the thousands of young minors, and adults who fall off the face of the earth never heard from ever again. Until those cases are resolved we will continue to be at a loss by just depending on statistics alone which imo are inaccurate, and incomplete.
Jmho