AZU denies they promote vigilante violence, but below is an exchange I had via IM by one AZ member who set up an anonymous account just to harass me:
myaccount238: If there is another Ohio rally, I will drive there to spit in your
face
me: That would be a big mistake
myaccount238: we'll see how tough you are quiverteeth
me: Better bring backup
me: By the way spitting is assault
me: You'd be arrested on the spot
Me: Your husband would be so jealous
(Thanks for being stupid AZU by the way. By the way they did call me "great"-- Thanks for the compliments LOL
myaccount238: You will win in court, sue everyone, and live happily ever after
myaccount238: ***** the great
Me: That's the plan
Me: Thanks for admitting I'm great)
By the way, AZU is pretty open about encouraging vigilantism. For example, AZU numbnut Carisma came to the rescue of Travis Metcalf, a man who was cited for disorderly conduct for threatening a sex offnder in public:
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/08/050908_1a_sex_offender.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=7#comments
Metcalf admits he lost control of his emotions.
“I was screaming at the top of my lungs at him,” said the 34-year-old Metcalf, a husband and a father of three children, ages 14, 12 and 5. “I ended up getting a ticket for disorderly conduct out of the deal.”
And Travis Metcalf should have gotten more, in my opinion, to teach people a hard lesson about vigilante violence. And he isn't learning his lesson:
"Despite his June 25 court date, Metcalf said he is keeping the pressure on Larsen by distributing fliers with Larsen’s picture and identifying information, and Metcalf is attempting to organize a 'parent watch' to raise public awareness. "
So it is NO surprise he fits in with AZU. So says Carisma:
By carimsa
May 11, 2008 10:14 PM
"Any parent would have done the same thing as Metcalf. He didn't assault him, he called him on it! Thank god he did."
No, any good parent would have called the cops and presented evidence of the former offender's improprieties. Not only is vigilante violence illegal, but DANGEROUS! Oh but there's more:
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/08/050908_1a_sex_offender.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=7#comment-61312103
By BRD
May 12, 2008 10:38 AM Link to this
"We (that count) are all behind you, Travis Metcalf! Let us know what you need." Yep! Keep up the good work! Travis hurt no one and only saved a child! [Note: He only hurt no one because the cops showed up]
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/08/050908_1a_sex_offender.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=7#comment-61334803
By Stitches77
May 12, 2008 11:12 AM
Metcalf is a hero and it appears the only people who don't realize it are guys who would think there's nothing wrong with lurking outside a preschool hiding in a bush.
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/05/08/050908_1a_sex_offender.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=7#comment-61163403
By Stitches77
May 12, 2008 4:23 AM Link to this
Shouting at a man who is hiding in a bush outside a preschool is Not harassment.
These people don't seem to understand you just don't get a citation for "doing the right thing." Getting up and threatening a person is NOT "doing the right thing." CALLING THE COPS WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG IS THE RIGHT THING!
Think about THIS folks, why is it Absolute Zero United hides their identity? Why aren't they touted as "heroes" for their work? Because cyberstalking, abuse of the registry, harassment, and threats of violence are ILLEGAL, that's why. They are CRIMINALS, plain and simple. Thugs.
By the way, why would a site like Family Watchdog tell people the first thing to do is to get up in people's faces. Read the article again:
Steve Roddel, president and CEO of Family Watchdog, said the 3-year-old site is updated throughout the day with the latest information available. He said he is unable to chastise people like Metcalf who use the site as a tool to protect their children and their community.
“It would be awfully hard for me to find fault with someone who is out trying to protect his community,” Roddel said.
He added that if a convicted sex offender is displaying high-risk behaviors, like hanging out at parks and schools with a puppy, that person should be confronted and made aware that he is being watched.
Tell them you know who they are, and, ‘You are not going to do it on my watch,’ ” Roddel said. “I wouldn’t necessarily call it overreacting.”
What happened to "if you see a crime call the police?" Duh. Someone shove the Watchmutt's nose in the shit they're shoveling! What if that guy had been packing heat? You don't just get up in a guy's face, that's a potentially dangerous situation. Hell, pull out a video camera, take pics, turn over to police, and the guy would have been in jail. Simple as 1-2-3! Of course, leave it to Family Watchdog and Absolute Zero United to put two and two together and only come up with three!
Oh yeah, one last thing, someone pointed out that I needed to add the following:
Note: The following information is provided as an awareness tool so that you can adequately protect yourself and your children from these individuals. The use of the sex offender registry information to harass, endanger, intimidate, threaten or in any way seek retribution on an offender through illegal channels is prohibited. Any person who engages or participates in such acts may be charged criminally."
And on the FamilyWatchDog TOS, it states:"Harassment, stalking, or threatening anyone on this list likely violates your state law and is neither condoned nor encouraged by Family Watchdog, its directors or employees."
So its not only illegal to use the registry info to harass people, it violates the Family Watchmutt TOS too! Then Roddel contradicts his own company. A classic!