I agree, Explorer89. It’s not an epidemic in that area. It’s an epidemic everywhere. It exists in every big city, every small town and every suburb. [momtothree]
Perhaps; yet, still if...
...say, over twice as many people are sick in say...four states -- in contrast to the other 46...
...while ALL could be considered in various stages of an "epidemic" -- the reality still is that those four concentrated states are significantly "worse off."
Take a look at the sex offender registries [explorer89]
I have. Which is why I've mentioned the "epidemic" analogy. Four states -- Alaska, Montana, South Dakota, and Florida all have over 3000 sex offenders per million residents -- more than twice the # of other states by contrast.
Why are Northern states more prone to this type of violence?
Alaska is particularly notorious for its rape rates and sex offender rates [significantly more men than women in that state]. If we simply "even out" violence vs. women & children across the states, then what do we do with states that have such a greater preponderance of assault?
Are they not to be distinguished at all in a negative way?
It's kind of like the way many cities are. Yes, no place is safe...as momtothree says It may “comfort” some to believe that “it isn’t in my town” but that would be believing in a lie.
Yet we all know in any given city, there are parts of town that constitutes greater security risks than others.
If, for example, the rape rate is more than twice in one section of a city than the rest, it doesn't help to simply come along and say the risk is everywhere and to treat all areas security-wise as the same. Even greater caution is called for in some areas vs. others?
Can't the same thing be true by given regions within states?
Let's face it. I tend to doubt that all states have broken down their sexual assault victims by age. We could be missing discerning where pedophile rings have set up camp.
You make an interesting point, Colofornian. Perhaps there are states that for whatever reason.... have a higher number of child molesters/rapists per capita. That being said, child molestation is probably not reported as often as other rapes. I personally believe they are more hidden and not reported. Why? Adult female X is grabbed enroute to her parking space and raped. She reports it. Child X is abused/raped/molested by Uncle Mike, neighbor Jones, or step-Dad John. This presents now an entirely new situation to the family. Many will wrongly choose NOT to believe their child over a family member OR choose to believe it and ignore it. They either wrongly assume the child is better off not having to relieve their ordeal to authorities or choose another person over their own child. I truly believe for every Penn State rape (that is, a person not related by blood or family)... there are dozens and dozens of other cases NOT reported and hidden from view.
If anything... and I mean anything good is to come out of knowing what these poor little boys endured for years at the hands of what was “suppose” to be upstanding citizens.... is that parents wake up and start actually talking to their children about this type of crime. Hopefully parents will start taking off their rose colored glasses that it would never be Coach X or teacher Y or Cousin B. I know what some may think... “you are being jaded if you look at the world as potential abusers”. However, I’d rather be suspicious and wary than to believe that there aren’t people right now in my own town or neighborhood who wouldn’t do those unspeakable crimes to little children.