What is Dads Against Predators?
An incident that police say led to a gun being fired in a North Carolina Target store has raised questions about the group “Dads Against Predators,” its history and its presence in the state.
Three men with ties to the organization lured a 25-year-old man to a Winston-Salem Target in late June and attacked him, according to police, leading the man to fire a gun in the store. It’s not the first time the group, also known as “D.A.P.,” has had run-ins with the law.
There is a channel on youtube called
Cᴏʟᴏʀᴀᴅᴏ Pᴇᴅ Pᴀᴛʀᴏʟ. This is a guy who gets online and tricks guys into meeting fake underage people then holds them at gunpoint until the police arrive.
Not sure how the charges stick since none of the stings are done by cops. But all the back and forth between him and those he catches is turned over to the police. He also gives out the name and address of each one he entraps on his channel along with all the video coverage and any previous charges they have.
From what I have learned there are 100s of these vigilante groups targeting registered folks, all over the U.S. Some might say that if you are not doing anything wrong, you won’t get caught in these traps. At least this guy is not as bad as the ones who go after registered people at their homes not doing anything wrong unless eating dinner with your family is a crime?
But the thing is many of these groups di eventually start targeting registered people. They also post memes promoting violence against registrants. DAP said in a 2020 interview they support castration and execution of “pedophiles.” They attract the kill ’em all types.
The past two years have seen a proliferation of citizen sting operators. They vary in sophistication— some do a better job, for example, of preserving evidence, getting people to open up in interviews, etc.
Dads Against Predators is one of the most confrontational and aggressive of these groups, and they should have seen this coming.
Jacob
And for those of us who are not getting violated (Funny word to use if I am not on probation) or caught in a sting, they make up some Bull Hockey excuse that we did not register an old pair of socks we own. I mean really if I am working in the yard and cut myself and it becomes a scar, I realize if I am arrested, they document that.
But someone not on “Official” paper or sanctions (Oh but we are we all know it) how do we have to take a day out of our lives to go register this? Is crime so low these days that cops are just bored out of their minds?
There is an old saying that I hate but is usually true. “Things will get worse before it gets better”.
I don’t approve of bait and switch stings that get gullible and often desperate men confused and wrongly targeted, but for those out there looking for trouble with an underage person, their stupidity will lead them to stupid outcomes like this eventually.
None of these guys will likely read this before they end up among our number, but I try to at least admonish my sons in the hope they will avoid making my mistakes someday.
Let’s do what we can to protect our loved ones and lead them in the right way, and pray a more merciful and restorative Justice system may one day prevail.
Extrajudicial actions like this aren’t the answer.
James
I did not even own a computer until I got released from prison in 1997. I had no clue what I was doing back then. Now I do tech support for my elderly parents. I even do the accent. They do not think it is funny but I enjoy making myself laugh LOL
Legal law enforcement say they don’t like this approach. Ok than put a stop to it. Where are all the legislators jumping all over this to solve the problem?
David
Because they DO like it, but they have to put out a statement stating they do not condone this behavior. Again, it is like the scene in Willy Wonka where Augustus Gloop falls into the chocolate river and his Mother says “Why don’t you do something”. Wonka replies “Help, Police, Muder” then proceeds to just stand there and do nothing to save the boy.
Oh great another bunch of people who think that rhey are law enforcement. Or they’ve been watching too much Dog, the bounty hunter. I’ve got to wonder, much like Cherokee, how much good work they do. It seems like their evidence and tactics would be inadmissible in court. But I guess the shame and embarrassing situation that they create for their victims is what they want.
So despite a man being attacked in the store police are not investigating and although this may not be a policy for all big box stores, Target’s spokesperson has not banned any of the men from the stores.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/dads-against-predators-group-involved-in-target-assault-police-say/ar-AAZ9A0M
Not only does Target representatives not speak against violence, but when looters steal and set one of their stores on fire, they commemorate the violence with a mural! https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/27/target-honors-violent-minneapolis-riots-with-mural-of-burning-building/
Violent people are always welcomed at Target as guests!
Roger
And we have all lost the irony of the man being “Targeted” AT Target!
The article suggests that these guys traveled to Carolina from Ohio. So how is it that only the gun crime unit cares?
I hate Target. I remember applying for a job with them back in 2005, and the manager wanted to hire me, even sent me to a clinic to do the pre-employment drug screening, only to get a letter from corporate headquarters stating they’d never hire me because of my record. Wish I still had the letter because the actual wording was a lot worse, I don’t remember all of it but they were very VERY nasty. And this was from their Minneapolis headquarters, NOT the local store.
Does the fact that Dads is on Facebook violate Facebook/Meta’s policy on hate speech? Obviously I think that it does, but my opinion isn’t the law.
If you have read my recent report I published on my website a couple months back I discuss how Facebook has made exceptions to attacks on people accused/convicted of sex offenses:
https://oncefallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/OnceFallen-Cyberbullying-PFRs-Soc-Media-2022.pdf
The short answer is no, people can attack us on FB and FB will turn a blind eye.
Thanks. I will give it a read.
From your viewpoint, how do you address the bullying?
When it comes to personal trolls, the only thing we CAN do from a practical standpoint is to learn to ignore them.
Police don’t take any threats against us seriously, but my experience so far is that these threats are empty. Internet gangsters are often cowards in real life.
You could sue for harassment, but who among us has the money to file such litigation? I don’t.
One other thing I learned is that trolls tend to suffer what might be described as a “Notice Me, Sempai” condition. We make their day when we mention them or even mention what they do. They’re “noticed” and it makes their miserable existence less miserable. They like to imagine you’re crying, angry and hitting the desk, or depressed because the troll says mean things about you. Whether that actually happens or not is irrelevant, in their eyes, you noticed them and it gives them euphoria.
Even mentioning the trolling isn’t working encourages them because it is simply about being noticed.
Ignoring them (blocking them on social media) puts you back in control. I believe many trolls feel actual physical pain at being ignored because then they realize nobody gives a rip about what they’re doing and they get depressed.
Again, I thank you. I’ve seen a few trolls, and have been attacked by more than a few.
I have no desire to let them shame me for one stupid mistake from years ago. So, I am grateful for the counsel from those who’ve been there. Live long and prosper.
BWJ
We have dealt with these types for years. Many neighbors have made our lives Hell. But what is funny is, we trusted God to help us weather the storms and He did. Over the years over 15 neighbors have moved because I refused to move no matter what they threw at me/us.
We stood our ground. And yes, new neighbors have moved in, some nicer and some meaner. Lately a new battle has been brewing since the Nextdoor app came out. Now we have people harassing us who do NOT even live on our street. Wow. So we are looking for what new spiritual weapons God will bring out of the storage locker for us to wage war with.
God has blessed me with a restored family and surrounded me with good neighbors. I hope no one is offended by my using the term “GOD”.
Now, what would happen if a group of sex offenders lured a vigilante to his or her death?
THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
(Pardon my shouting).
Kim
An article last year posted by F.A.C was a story of a guy killed because he was on the registry. The problem was, the person they killed was NOT the person they thought he was and that person was NOT on the registry and was mistaken identity.
So one family lost a loved one senselessly and the other family has a member in prison for murder.
Ben
I watched a movie once; I do not even remember the name and it. But one statement I always remember from it is “There is a great war that is coming, you must be prepared for battle”.
Got a better one, “Wars are not won be the fearless but be the feared”. They hate us but they don’t fear us. We need to actually do something as a group. Get 20K of us to start calling a senator once a week to complain about something. We can’t vote, so all we can do is contact our law makers. Send them a piece of mail a week. Make the see that we are now organized and working as a unit. That is what they would fear.
If a politician knows you can’t vote, then he or she doesn’t give a damn about your welfare.
yes but if we remind them that we have family that can vote then maybe things would change.
Fl
citizen
Believe me, they do not care if our families suffer. A judge as much as told me that when I was sentenced. She said ” YOU did this to your family, not me so they have to pay for your mistake”.
Well in a way she is right, but again, there was NO registry when I was sentenced, and yet every day my family suffers because I cannot take a vacation with them (Unless I jump through hoops, re-registry here and there numerous times) I am not allowed on campuses so cannot attended my grandchildren’s events, and so many other things.
AND, not being selfish here because almost ALL of us have to live with these retroactive penalties that the courts refuse to acknowledge are punitive. I say walk a week in our shoes and see what it is like. Some states are trying to pass lifetime ankle monitors on registrants even NOT on any sanctions.
I also am a registered citizen and agree that each politician should walk in our shoes. BUT we have to look at this fight as something that we can win. We win with unity and we win with numbers. Just because we cant vote does not mean our families cant. When politicians come to the realization that there is 31k RC in Florida. If we all had 2 sympathetic voters that’s over 60k votes. SO yes they might not care about our votes but with numbers they will care about the others.
They don’t care if you call them. They laugh at you.
Voting, the sham that is, is the thin pretence that the weak legitimacy of our government rides on.
Voting makes it so you don’t have to use violence. That is the point of democracy.
They took that away.
Show them what happens.
Sounds like the “dads” are the REAL predators to me. These self-appointed “protectors” of children is so super creepy. It’s right up there with “Ride for their Lives” level of cringe.
These people suffer from what i call false importance.
It’s all done in bad faith and without good cause because they’re all been brainwashed by the media and Facebook communities.
does anyone know if we are allowed to own a gun or how we can find out?
Anyone who has lost their rights can NOT be possession of any firearms (see your local county/state for what constitutes a firearm) nor can they vote. To attempt to regain these rights requires reaching out to the Clemency Office, submit a few documents, and wait… and wait.. and wait.. and… you get the idea.
I personally attempted to only get permission for reinstatement of my voting rights. I thought this would be much easier than attempting to request both being reinstated at the same time. Well after over 15 years of waiting for my request to be reviewed, last year the Gov made a blankety edict to deny ALL requests. I now have to wait at least 5 more years (I think) before I can request to get back on that merry go round. If you find any path to regaining any of your rights, PLEASE share what you find with FAC. Good luck.
I had adjudication withheld so i don’t know if that makes a difference and the judge said in her final decision that i didn’t lose all my rights(i can still vote) so that’s why i am asking i should have said that in my first comment. i contacted the P.B.S.O. SPOT unit and they said they didn’t know so i figure i try a place where someone might know here in the F.A.C. family
If i can carry or possess a firearm as i did before my charge i would like to do that in case some of these vigilantes try and Knock on my door
No hope
If you are in Florida, you can find out by reaching out to the Florida Department of Law enforcement. Or you can reach out to the lawyer that you used in court. Both should know but it is hit or miss with the FDLE, they may tell you no just so you won’t get a gun.
Somewhere in my study of US history I believe I have read “No taxation without representation”. Since I can’t vote I have no representation therefore I should not have to pay taxes. Or have the politicians twisted history to meet their agenda?
I stopped funneling my hard earned money into that gvt slush fund years ago. I’ll be damned if my money goes to those clowns at the marshals office.
Whenever we buy stuff we pay taxes. When we sell stuff online we pay taxes. So there’s no way to NOT pay at least some tax, so when one of these right-wingers bash me for not working a regular slave job, they don’t seem to understand that even the poorest of the poor pay at least some taxes.
So here in Nebraska the sales tax is roughly 7% once you take into account both state and local taxes. That’s $7 every $100 I spend, be it clothes, gas, food, or other items. If I spend $500 a month on these things, then by year’s end the gov’t collected roughly $420 in sales taxes. So roughly half a month’s worth of my SSI payment every year goes back into taxes.
And of course, some places have higher sales taxes, and if I travel, hotel taxes are far higher. If I get a hotel room in Lincoln, for example, the room may be $99 but I end up paying about $25 or so in taxes. Gasoline state sales tax is about 25 cents per gallon in addition to whatever the fed gas tax is.
But, I am what conservatives like to call a “government leech.” I colect a gov’t check & some food stamps and medicare/medicaid.
And since the registry makes so many unable to woek, I have no qualms collecting it. I don’t feel guilty my oppressers are slaving away their lives at a 9-to-5 while I sit at home playing video games and eating good food on their dime.
As far as the vigilantes, if they like guns and fighting so much, we can ship them to the Ukraine, where those types would be actually needed.
Derek
You said in your last line:
“As far as the vigilantes, if they like guns and fighting so much, we can ship them to the Ukraine, where those types would be actually needed.”
I need to correct you if you will allow. Those bastards only go after the ones they see as weak, frail and helpless. Sending them over the Russia or The Ukraine would make them wet their diapers and come screaming home for their Mommies. That is because over there, both Russia and Ukraine actually fight back.
Not everyone on the registry is a coward either. None of us wants trouble or to get re-arrested but, some of us fight back when cornered, especially when we live with our families. There is nothing a man wouldn’t do to protect their families. Try taking a baby bear from a Grizzly and see what happens.
Peace my brother, and glad you do not feel bad for taking Government assistance. I have been denied food stamps so many times, the food stamp office takes bets from the employees on my chances of getting approved. LOL
I love the dedication that you and Jack show. We need to keep up the fight within the bounds of civility…something those who hate registered citizens, politicians, and some law enforcement officials can’t do.
No hope, you can probably find out if someone has a concealed weapons permit or similar permit by contacting the appropriate state agency since it would be public record. But you will also need to know public records laws in the various states where these incidents occur and how to appeal denials of your public information requests. Good luck with all that.
These groups are thinly veiled profiteers. When you go to DAPs page one of the first things you are hit with is a merchandise store. The others make shameless pleas for subscribers. Make no mistake they are doing this for a false sense of celebrity and money. I
I emailed the reporter of the piece letting her know that they should d a story on how much these guys are making and in turn funding out what their true motives are. These groups are shameless and disgusting.
Oh, no, they earn a living?
What’s next? Paid law enforcement officers?
YouTube videos commonly earn $18 per 1000 views, so yes, they can earn a living doing this.
One way to invite further crackdowns on sex offenders, is to promote violent assaults by sex offenders, as we seem to do below. Let’s not use this forum for that purpose. Luring people to violence won’t end up the way you imagine it will.
Excellent opinion piece in the local media (comments open underneath the article):
https://greensboro.com/opinion/editorial/our-opinion-no-vigilante-justice/article_fa06b802-038e-11ed-87d4-7b39d75b13b2.html