Mom wants to join forces with Pool
Oct 21 2006

Abbotsford's Furious Grandmas are fighting for tougher jail sentences against pedophiles and their mission is touching the hearts of parents across Canada.

The mother of a 10-year-old Saskatchewan boy who was kidnapped by serial pedophile Peter Whitmore this summer contacted Gertie Pool this week and wants to join forces.

The mom said she saw the article about the Furious Grandmas in the Abbotsford News on the Internet and knew she had to speak to Pool.

Since there is a publication ban, the mom is not free to discuss the Whitmore case which is before the courts, but she's seeking the public's help to change the law in Canada.

"We have had tremendous support in Saskatchewan," she said, adding that she hopes people in B.C. and other provinces will get on board.

The town of Whitewood, Sask., where the boy lives, is circulating a petition asking Justice Minister Vic Toews to get tough on repeat pedophiles.

The mayor of Whitewood is not only advocating longer jail time, but believes families have the right to know exactly where sex predators are living and what they look like so they can better protect their children.

The petition requests the federal government to:

n Give harsher penalties to convicted pedophiles.

n Make it compulsory for pedophiles to wear electronic monitoring device when they are released from prison.

n Notify the public with pictures of the pedophile and their whereabouts.

Pool told the Saskatchewan mother that people in Abbotsford and B.C. are ready to help.

"I think it's the least we can do," Pool said.

"What sort of society are we becoming when we don't protect our little ones?" Pool said, noting, for example, how a pedophile said the taste of young boys is like heaven to him.

"These things shouldn't happen to our children and when we let people like that out of our prisons to victimize more children, that is criminal."

Pool said families definitely should have the right to protect their children from these predators and to know the whereabouts of sex offenders when they are released into the community.

Meanwhile, Pool said she is pleased the federal government has introduced three-strikes-and you're out legislation.

If passed, the new law would jail indefinitely violent criminals and sex offenders who have been convicted of three charges, unless they can prove they're not dangerous offenders,

To download the letter supporting tough new laws for pedophiles, please go to the Internet site: www.townofwhitewood.ca.

If you don't have access to the Internet, you can sign a petition letter at Life's Second Chance Thrift Store, 32288 South Fraser Way in Clearbrook, next door to Taco Time.