Is Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" anti gun?

[Zen21Tao]

Ok. I was flipping through the channels at about 12:30 am and I came across Chris Hansen’s Dateline show, “To Catch a Predator” on MSNBC. For those not familiar with this show, adults show up to a house to have sex with an underage teenagers and find only Chris Hansen there to interview them, and then when they leave the house, they are taken into custody by the police and charged with a sex crime.


Up to this point, I found the show had been pretty balanced. I think that most would agree that sexual predators are low lifes and should be kept off the streets. This show doesn’t just catch and embarrass potential child predators, it arguably creates an added deterrent effect.


But here is where the show lost me. They showed some officers tackling potential predators exiting the house as the narrator said “officers are sometimes extra aggressive, but in Florida they are allowed to act extra aggressively because, in Florida, it is easy for people to get concealed weapon permits and could be armed.” (Paraphrased)


I continued to watch to see if I was just making much ado about nothing, but later in the show they mentioned one suspects use of a gun in an armed robbery (fair enough, he did use a gun to commit a crime) but the show then made a big deal about a shotgun being in the car of another suspect who was an active duty Marine.


So my question is, am I incorrect to think that this show is attempting to correlate pedophiles and gun ownership, when it can do so?

 

[Albatross]

I've read that the majority of all those fellows "captured and removed from the streets" plead not guilty and are quickly released with lack of evidence. One has to wonder why the show doesn't release the conviction rates of the people they "help capture".

All in all, the show is just a filthy waste. TV crews aren't cops and shouldn't conduct sting operations. TV stations shouldn't be in the business of public humiliation nor should such punishment be used as entertainment/justice.

Top that off with the fact the cops should be off doing real work. If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

As for the negative gun references I think that is just to build the drama. The more dangerous they can make these "predators" the better the show sells.

 

[average_shooter]

Well, you could argue that they use entrapment, which is a tactic many disagree with.

Gun related; they harassed a guy to the point of committing suicide. That's pretty much when I lost the last bit of respect for the show I had. Catching predators is one thing, but baiting them into something then harassing them to the point of suicide is ridiculous. If I remember correctly they said something like "it could have been much worse had he turned the gun on the cops."

And at some point I remember seeing a show or reading an article about the police getting in trouble for pointing guns all over the place to take down unarmed and compliant subjects just to look good for the cameras. That's bad form, I'm not "cop-bashing."

 

[Standing Wolf]

There's a world of difference between corrupt and corruptible. Expecting so-called "journalists" to bear such a subtle disctinction in mind would be like hoping skunks will quit stinking.

 

[Zen21Tao]

Wow... This gets even better. I went back to the show, MSNBC seems to be airing a number of episodes back to back, and at 4:20 am they found a loaded Kahr in a suspected predator's car (lol, I like the pun) and the narrator says "and what has the police even more worried is that the man has a legally registered* gun in his car."

*This was an episode taking place in California.
---

Average_Shooter:

I do have to say that I agree with others that shows like this are entrapment. I have a very powerful view on the law. The law has to be applied correctly and equally for all, even for the worst of the worst. Shows like this have the real potential of creating a slippery slope that could in turn lead to abuses of power.


I also agree that many police have a tendency to use "bad form" when cameras are present. In fact, one guy was tasered because he didn't imediately respond to officers instructions. He just stood there motionless for about 4-5 seconds and was tasered. In some cases it could be the adrenaline of the situation getting the best of them, in others it could be them showing off for the cameras. In fact, it is possible that "To Catch a Predator" may have made so much fuss over the dangers of gun as a CYA move for the local police's actions in their arrests.

 

[Eric F]

its the media of course they are anti gun however thankfully this particular show focuses on some thing else generaly

 

[elrod]

Who deputized MSNBC???

 

[jaholder1971]

It's MSNBC and NBC who produce this show, you really gotta ask???

 

[joab]

Well, you could argue that they use entrapment, which is a tactic many disagree with

Entrapment is enticing someone to commit a crime that they normally would not do
Unless the decoys are initiating contact and/or sexual conversation this is not entrapment

Top that off with the fact the cops should be off doing real work. If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

Nothing I can say that would not be censored

So my question is, am I incorrect to think that this show is attempting to correlate pedophiles and gun ownership, when it can do so?

I don't think they are, I think they are commenting on the easy access to guns in general
Accessibility to guns in Florida is a concern to LEOs here when apprehending this type of low life predator who may very well be planning on much more than a little afternoon tryst
But I do think the comments are abbreviated blurbs made by people who are used to guns not being so accessible and need to make a point quickly, especially when you realize that we don't even need permits here for vehicle carry.
That would sure bunch their shorts up a little

 

[alsaqr]

"Gun related; they harassed a guy to the point of committing suicide."

Yes, he did commit suicide. You forgot to mention that he was a prosecutor in another county. Was the arrest handled well? Probably not.

Personally, I'm not sure they are anti-gun or not. IMO: They are doing a service to the country by getting sexual predators off the streets. A few of these guys are registered sex offenders who have raped or molested kids previously.

The Perveted Justice folks home on in would be child predators who are online in chat rooms trolling around for kids to molest or rape: I see nothing wrong with that.

 

[buy guns]

I think it is reasonable for them to be concerned about the predators being armed, even if they are otherwise law abiding. You have to remember, they are pretty much backing these guys into corners. These aren't the normal criminal types. You think any of these creeps could handle going to jail for a "tough guy" crime, let alone for being a sex offender? On top of that they are getting arrested on national tv.

 

[ilbob]

Top that off with the fact the cops should be off doing real work. If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the Internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

This is not really a predator problem so much as it is a parenting problem. But it is not PC to blame parents for failing to instill appropriate values in their children and not enforcing proper conduct.

 

[plexreticle]

Who cares if he has a gun permit.

It's the media trying to lump gun permits in with sex crimes.

 

[CannonFodder]

You turned on that drek and expected something substantive and well-reasoned? That's "saxophonist-with-a-pager"-level of optimism.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

I've read that the majority of all those fellows "captured and removed from the streets" plead not guilty and are quickly released with lack of evidence. One has to wonder why the show doesn't release the conviction rates of the people they "help capture".

All in all, the show is just a filthy waste. TV crews aren't cops and shouldn't conduct sting operations. TV stations shouldn't be in the business of public humiliation nor should such punishment be used as entertainment/justice.

Top that off with the fact the cops should be off doing real work. If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

As for the negative gun references I think that is just to build the drama. The more dangerous they can make these "predators" the better the show sells.

Where did you supposedly read this?

If you actually watch the show, it goes over all the people arrested and their sentences. In some states many of the guys get 5 to 9 months in prison with probation, in other states the guys get 3-9 years. So I have no clue where you supposedly READ this stuff.

The show works WITH police departments, and there the ones who make the arrests, NOT MSNBC. (Chris Hanson doesn't jump out and throw cuffs on anyone.)

I think the show is great. It catches all the *&*$#& and locks them up. And amazingly, they keep coming. It's also NOT entrapment.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Top that off with the fact the cops should be off doing real work. If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the Internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

This is not really a predator problem so much as it is a parenting problem. But it is not PC to blame parents for failing to instill appropriate values in their children and not enforcing proper conduct.

This is true, to an extent.

You will not always be able to stop your daughter from doing things. Similar to when your daughter dates a guy you don't want too. What are you going to do when she says, "Dad, you don't understand, he loves me, I love him." You can fight with her and yell at her, and only alienate her. And then watch her run off with him. You have to be careful.

And it is a predator problem. We see it happen quite often, and we need to be aware of it, and on the look out for it.

 

[Kman]

John Walsh, Chris Hansen, both have taken The High Road, to use the media in a positive fashion by educating the public on the actions and identities of criminals, we can only hope that more shows will reveal the dangerous individuals that lurk in our society.

 

[tsidorus]

Its perhaps a little dramatic at times but I give the show a emphatic two thumbs up. I just wish the police had the resources to do this kinda of thing 24/7. And to comment on the DA that committed suicide, it wouldn't bother me a bit if each and every one of those lowlifes felt compelled to suck start a 45. (I know harsh, but some people are still alive simply cause its against the law to kill them.) You shouldn't feel bad about a criminal being publicly humiliated. If they are so concerned with public image perhaps they shouldn't do something that is publicly condemned.

-Tsi

 

[hank327]

This show did a sting in Collin County, TX a year or so ago. Collin County neighbors Dallas to the Northeast and is a booming suburb. Anyway, the end result of that show was that the Collin County District Attorny's Office threw out every case brought to them as a result of the show. I'm not at all comfortable with LE being invovled in the entertainment business. Allowing a journalist to ride along is one thing, but allowing the so called journalist to be calling the shots is something else entirely.

 

[theleveloftime]

Revolting

There is something vile going on in these shows, something on both sides, the perp is vile and the supposed "good guys" are vile also. I hate the utter dishonesty that is required to pull this off. To quote Faramir in the Lord of the Rings as he spoke to Gollum (possibly one of the most vile creatures in a book ever) "I would not snare an orc with a lie". These guys are all orcs. I am ashamed that all these men keep showing up. They say they never run out of customers. I still think there is something really sick going on both sides. It is dam entertaining though. When guns are finally outlawed they will have a show about guys showing up at a house for "free guns". I am sure some of it!

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Revolting
There is something vile going on in these shows, something on both sides, the perp is vile and the supposed "good guys" are vile also. I hate the utter dishonesty that is required to pull this off. To quote Faramir in the Lord of the Rings as he spoke to Gollum (possibly one of the most vile creatures in a book ever) "I would not snare an orc with a lie". These guys are all orcs. I am ashamed that all these men keep showing up. They say they never run out of customers. I still think there is something really sick going on both sides. It is dam entertaining though. When guns are finally outlawed they will have a show about guys showing up at a house for "free guns". I am sure some of it!

Why do you hate the "dishonesty" to catch these guys?

Would you rather they catch them after they've molested a child?

 

[NCHornet]

Quote:
If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

Even if the girl invites the sick pervert over to her house there is NO EXCUSE FOR A GROWN MAN TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH A CHILD!!! I hope I misunderstood your statement, because your response makes me wonder about you!! I don't care if the girl begs the pervert, there is simply no excuse for this behavior, and many times these predators know exactly what to say to these girls and boys to have their way. I think this show started off okay but has now gotten very sick in what they repeat on the air about the conversations that went on between the decoy and the pervert. I think everyone should be castrated and their fingers cut off so they can't type on a keyboard anymore!! Show this live on TV and it might have more of an impact!!

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Is Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" anti gun?

So my question is, am I incorrect to think that this show is attempting to correlate pedophiles and gun ownership, when it can do so?

Which is it? Are you asking if they are anti gun or are you asking if they are trying to connect gun ownership with pedophilia?

With that queried, if you really have to ask a question as to whether or not they are anti-gun, then either you aren't familiar with the show, didn't pay attention, or don't know the difference between what is reporter/TV show opinion versus what the cops have told them. Often times people attribute negative statements in the media to the media types when in reality they are just reporting, parroting, what the cops have told them.

On the second question, no, they are not trying to tie gun ownership to pedophilia. In fact, you asked the wrong question. The question would be whether or not they were trying to tie licensed concealed carry to pedophilia, not just plain gun ownership. In the quote made, the reporter is simply stating that police are working on the assumption that the person might be armed because of the commonality of people carrying concealed in FL because of the ease of getting a license.

Funny thing that they were not worried about folks illegally carrying concealed.

So since the question was asked if the show was anti gun, then what I would like to know is why it would matter. So what if the show is anti-gun or not?

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

Quote:
If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

Even if the girl invites the sick pervert over to her house there is NO EXCUSE FOR A GROWN MAN TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH A CHILD!!! I hope I misunderstood your statement, because your response makes me wonder about you!! I don't care if the girl begs the pervert, there is simply no excuse for this behavior, and many times these predators know exactly what to say to these girls and boys to have their way. I think this show started off okay but has now gotten very sick in what they repeat on the air about the conversations that went on between the decoy and the pervert. I think everyone should be castrated and their fingers cut off so they can't type on a keyboard anymore!! Show this live on TV and it might have more of an impact!!

LOL. I thought the same thing. These guy's who are so mad at being "tricked" or whatever, why are they so upset about it?

And exactly what your saying....these are KIDS their tricking. Not ADULTS. Which is the point. Kids are CURIOUS about all kinds of stuff. That's why their kids. And their INNOCENT.

 

[alsaqr]

Quote:
Quote:
If your teenage daughter is inviting random men from the internet over to your house for sex, she isn't exactly an innocent little girl or much of a victim.

Even if the girl invites the sick pervert over to her house there is NO EXCUSE FOR A GROWN MAN TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH A CHILD!!! I hope I misunderstood your statement, because your response makes me wonder about you!! I don't care if the girl begs the pervert, there is simply no excuse for this behavior, and many times these predators know exactly what to say to these girls and boys to have their way. I think this show started off okay but has now gotten very sick in what they repeat on the air about the conversations that went on between the decoy and the pervert. I think everyone should be castrated and their fingers cut off so they can't type on a keyboard anymore!! Show this live on TV and it might have more of an impact!!

"LOL. I thought the same thing. These guy's who are so mad at being "tricked" or whatever, why are they so upset about it?"

The Perverted Justice person is simply going online as a kid. IMO: There is nothing wrong with that. The child molester/would be child molester then hits on a person that he knows to be a child. Many of these scumbags send photos of their genitals to folks that they know to be kids. This is as bad as it can get: That guy has violated federal law. He could be arrested at that point and prosecuted in federal court.