Sex offender free subdivision

Milwaukee Ridge is a subdivision requiring background checks before purchasing the homes. The goal is to create a “sex offender restricted neighborhood.” ABC News interviewed a pastor who moved his family to the subdivision (I wonder if there’s actually a ridge?) saying he wanted his children to have the safe upbringing he and his wife did.

Drawing of the facade of a home in Milwaukee Ridge.

Ironically, the local news followed this story up with a report of a man accused of sexual assault on at least one of 28 foster children he housed over the last two years. According to the news bite, Arkansas requires two background checks before allowing a family or person to foster parent, and because the man has lived in the state for less than two years they also subjected him to an additional FBI background check.

There is no such thing as 100% security. If the people gobbling up homes in Milwaukee Ridge think the subdivision offers some sort of safety guarantee for them and their families, they are naive. Even the contractor’s words, “sex offender restricted neighborhood,” don’t imply any kind of assurance. I thought the same thing of people who, following 9/11, strongly implied you can keep all of the terrorists off of all of the airplanes.

I heard some time back that John Piper — who my wife and I greatly respect — purposefully moved his family into the most infamous St. Paul, Minnesota, neighborhood. The pastor reportedly said (paraphrased), “My kids don’t need television, they can just look out our front door.” Many will consider what he’s done foolish. Likewise, a friend in Denver moved herself downtown about 13 years ago. This single lady’s friends thought she was nuts. Both of these people are committed to living incarnationally, living out their faith. How is living your faith foolish?