May 19, 2005

Honey, We're Going to Six Flags!

If we hadn't already made vacation plans, I'd beg my dear hubby to take me and the kids to Six Flags.  Their position is that they have the right to bar sex offenders from their parks.

CHICAGO — Bob Levan bought season passes to Six Flags Great America for his daughters and their best friend, but he is worried he won't be able to ride the roller coasters with them because he is a convicted sex offender.

Awww, poor Sex Offender Bob.  Can't ride the roller coasters with the little girls and boys?  How sad for you.

Six Flags added wording on the back of season passes to all 30 of its U.S. amusement parks this year stating that it reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone convicted of a sex crime.

The amusement park said it does not actually plan to run background checks on everyone entering the park, but visitors seen acting inappropriately could be subjected to a check and thrown out.

Still, the warning was enough to concern Levan.

Hmmm...I thought he was "rehabilitated?"  Why would he worry?  Does he have "sex offender" tattooed on his forehead?  Is he worried that his actions will get him tossed out of the park?!?!?

"My 13-year-old girl read this on the back of the pass and said, `Now Daddy, does this mean you can never take me to Great America?'" he said. "I am 350 percent for protecting children, and that just bugs me."

Okay, let me get this straight.  Daddy is a convicted sex offender, and he and his 13 year old daughter talk about it as if it were a disability?  Discrimination?  Hmmmmm....I hear the ACLU marching in from somewhere here...

Levan was convicted of molesting an 8-year-old relative when he was 16. He served a brief jail sentence and underwent treatment in a mental health facility. Now 35, the divorced information technology worker is raising a family in suburban Chicago.

Andrea D. Lyon, president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, complained that the language sends the message that sex offenders are social outcasts despite whatever steps they may have taken to rehabilitate themselves.

Damn right, Ms. Lyon.  They are social outcasts.  I applaud the actions of Six Flags.  They do have every right to set rules that they feel will make the experience the safest for their patrons.  Just taking the stand alone is brave, given this ACLU-lawsuit riddled society.