It's our turn now to take a stand
To say aloud whatever we can
And need to say to erase for good
The horror in our neighbor hoods
And cities which are rich and poor
The silent fear behind each door
The fear that's in our hearts and minds
That the sex offenders just may find
His or her way to our safe little world
To victimize our boy or girl
The nonchalance we seem to display
With the fact that our children are not allowed to play
In their homes and their yards
And their school playgrounds
For fear of a criminal lurking around
We have got to learn to internalize
That it's not those other children's eyes
That will haunt their parents in their slumber
When we move the veil we're all hiding under
We will realize for once and for all
That it's our nation's children who are taking the fall
The next time that headline could just as well read
That your sweet child was left to bleed
And suffer such a senseless death
It's your baby whose robbed of one last precious breath

Its time that we should take a stand
And vow to punish each woman or man
Who dares to harm our children's lives
Who stalks them with both guns and knives
Allow yourself to be enraged
To be forced to raise your child in a cage
Of worry, distrust and programmed fear
That danger could be looming near
A danger cleverly disguised
As a neighbor who helps them catch fireflies

I know it hurts for us to feel
Down in our hearts that this is real
And isn't reserved for that other mother
It doesn't just happen to our coworker's brother
Or the lady who lives many miles away
To that shy little girl that was the victim today

Please remember and always keep in mind
That who you thought was safe
You just might find
Was convicted of a heinous crime
this knowledge is unknown to you and me
Because legislation allows it to be
Our children's lives take back seat you see
To a sex offenders privacy
And they stand behind the laws that they cite
that rally for a criminals rights
Over the freedom of living that belongs to each spirit
To play and enjoy life, and not have to fear it

In close I'd like to say to you
Please take to heart what you can do
To do your part and help bring near
A world where children don't have to learn fear
Before they get to live and grow
And experience what it is to know
How soul fulfilling it can be
To thrive and develop in what ought to be
A world where our efforts are insurmountable
To make our law makers all accountable
For creating legislation and passing laws
Which support their commitment to this cause
That we all have got to take a stand
We have to protest, write and say whatever we can
To nurture and help make stand tall
Our most sacred natural resource of all

OUR CHILDREN