Sex offenders SHOULD NOT be allowed to take photos of minor children! REGARDLESS if it is pornographic or fully clothed. For the simple reason. It makes The children uncomfortable! Speaking from personal experience! Just because it's not pornographic does not mean that some sex offenders do not get aroused by it! There is no need for a full grown adult to sit at a park or a recreational center and Target minor children and photo them! I understand that they are allowed to be at recreational centers and they are allowed to take pictures out in public. But when they start targeting minor children there should be a line drawn. I had my kids at a Park which I was told it was a recreational center and a sex offender was allowed to be there. Because it was not considered a park! I went to the gas station to get my children a drink which they are 15 13 and 8. They also had a friend with them. They wanted to stay at the park I seen no problem in it because I grew up here and never had any issues with anyone. The gas station is 8 mins away. When I returned my oldest daughter told me. She thought the man in the van was taken photos of them! I told her that people come out here and listen to music sometimes after having a hard day and at times take pictures. I ensured her that they were safe. I would keep an eye on the van And have a good time!! I am not gonna lie I didn't think alot about it because I have went the park after a hard day listened to music and took pictures of the lake or the sky! They played for awhile it started to rain and we headed home! They got something to eat and wanted to walk to the other park closer to our house. I said OK becareful call when me when you get there. About 10 mins after they left I was outside and glanced up the road and there was a white van sitting at the top of the hill. I got an uneasy filling and called my stepndad outside and told him what happend at the park. As we walked towards the road the van started to come down the road towards us. The guy had his hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2!! Looking straight ahead didn't wave or even do a head nod. When he reached the stop sign be turned right! My children just turned right 10 mins ago I told my stepdad to grab his keys we needed to get the kids. By the time he got his keys and we got to the stop sign the van was GONE!! I could see the kids they didn't even make it to the main road to turn to go to the park yet! We pulled up to them and I said get in!! My daughter said did you see the van mom I said yes! Where did it turn she said the road right after ours. I asked what color shirt the guy had on in the van at the park they said burgundy like a red color. Then they proceeded to tell me that he had a black and gray beard. I asked what color he was they said Hispanic. That was the same MAN that just drove by our home. I called the police and made a report over the phone. I was sitting outside and my 8 yr old came up to me and said that she didnt feel comfortable! Like someone was watching her. That is honestly the worst feeling in the world when your child tell you that she dont feel safe at home! And she always plays outside! They sent someone out to see if they could locate the van. I told a friend about it. He said look up watchdog! It shows you where the offenders are around you. So I did. THE 3RD PICTURE I clicked on it was him my stomach dropped! I was so upset. I took a screen shot of the man. When my son woke up the next morning I showed him and he asked how I got the guys picture. I felt sick. I waited a lil bit and then woke up my oldest daughter and showed her response was who is that. I said you don't know him. She said is that the guy. I asked her if she saw him she said no that her friend and her brother did so I went in and I didn't say anything just showed her the picture she shook her head yes. I said are you sure this is who you saw yesterday at the park? She said yes! I immediately got on the phone with the Sheriff's Department and told them I needed someone to come out so I could file a report. The officer came out and talked to all of us said he had to do an investigation. Ok I understand that I always call the sex offenders office on Tuesday. Monday was a holiday. Spoke with them told them what happend and that I already filed a report. They still have not made contact with the sex offender. And I was told that the vehicle description I gave them did not match the one on file that was registered to him. I said okay find out where he works maybe it's a work vehicle maybe he borrowed it from someone. I asked if they were gonna do that and the officer said yes! Mind you this happend on 9/4 and it's 9/11 now. With them unable to make contact with the sex offender! With my 8 year old still scared to play outside by herself. On top of that I was told that he left about 30 mins after I did from the park so how did he find my home?!?! A law need to be put in place making it illegal for a sex offender to take photos of minor children in public for the simple fact that for one it makes the children very uncomfortable because obviously they pick up on that and they see that before we do at times. And two that is targeting our children how do we know that a certain sex offender isn't going to slip and go back to their old ways. Especially if they're victim was a minor child or that they might kidnap or hurt a child again! It needs to be brought to attention that this is going on a lot more nowadays than we think. I am not going to sit here and say a sex offender is not a person because they are still human I am not saying they cannot take pictures out in public because they should be able to. I do not believe wholeheartedly that they should be allowed to take pictures of minor children while they are playing in a public park where it is suppose to be a safe place for them to be a kid and having fun. And I know I'm not the only one who feels like this we have the power to changes if we come together! If enough of us come together and sign this something has to be done because there is no reason for our children to feel uncomfortable playing outside or at a park for that matter. We as parents have enough on our plate that we stress about and worry about on a daily basis to add something else so traumatizing to our plate! We need to make this happen and make it a win for all parents everywhere that way our children have somewhat of a normal childhood and they don't have to go through it worrying about some stranger taking photos of them or videos that they don't know and wondering what they're doing with them especially if our children are at the age where they realize what is going on. Because of stuff they hear on the news and social media! All I'm asking for is you to sign this petition and help our children feel safe and ease our mind as parents as grandparents as aunts and uncles Thank you. We can all do this if we pull together!