Former Scouts volunteer given 5-year sentence for sexually assaulting 4 boys

The tables have definitely been turned, I don't think ol' Scotty is going to enjoy the next three years and 281 days. Although you never can tell, he may enjoy dropping the soap.

I am a Scouts volunteer (and the dad of a Scout) and I am truly appalled that these monsters are attracted to our kids. We had an incident very close to us. It's not just Scouting but any activity involving children. There are very few predators out there in the general population but they specifically target organizations like ours and try and try to insinuate themselves into the heart of them.

It's sure hurting the Scouting movement. It's the kids who get short changed when activities like this dry up because of a handful of selfish perverts.

There's a picture of this guy doing something-or-other with a scout. We never touch Scouts ... even when they play games. Danger signal right there.

But it's things like the Scouts or the Priesthood or teaching that makes such a tempting field for sexual predators to get into. They offer easy access to young children, children who can be easily coerced into keeping silent about what's happened.

The Scouts organization has tightened the requirements for leaders right up. You can never be alone with Scouts ... always in pairs.

Get this: As a leader, I can carry my son in my car but no other scout unless there is another leader in the car. An unvetted parent can carry anyone in any combination, though. There are good reasons for these regulation even if they seem obsessive. Also, we are subject to police checks, renewable every three years. My fingerprints were submitted to the RCMP as art of the process, not that I mind. I was in the Forces when I was younger and my prints have been part of the public record since that time anyway. It's a pretty small price to pay to keep our children safe.

I never wonder about the fathers and mothers involved in Scouting. There are young, single me about though an some pretty strange old guys. Vigilance.