By Dallin Smith
The world?s largest regional theme park company just told sex offenders they?re not welcome.
As of 2005, all 30 theme parks owned by Six Flags, Inc. began printing a new statement on the back of their season tickets. This statement reserves the right to give sex offenders the boot from Six Flags parks.
According to the wording on each ticket, the ticket holder may be thrown out of the park, ?If the bearer has been convicted of any crime of a type that could pose a threat to the safety of our guests, including without limitation, any sex crime or if the bearer is required to be registered as a sex offender.?
This new wording on the back of Six Flags tickets has sparked some controversy.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Andrea D. Lyon, president of the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said the wording on the back of Six Flags? tickets sends a message that sex offenders are social outcasts, no matter what they have done to rehabilitate themselves.
'It just seems to me that ? to some degree ? it''s public grandstanding to make people feel like Six Flags is safe,? Lyon told the AP. ?We can send our kids there because they are going to throw out the sex offenders. If they are not going to do a background check on everyone walking through the door, what''s the point?'
Spokeswoman Debbie Evans from Six Flags said that she did not agree with Lyon.
?The point of all of our operational procedures and guidelines is to work with our team members, work with our guests to provide the safest possible environment,? Evans said. ?That?s the point of everything that we do. This additional language simply informs guests that we reserve the right to cancel the season pass of anyone who poses a safety or security risk to our guests or doesn?t follow the rules.?
An online poll taken by NBC and posted on their Web site indicates the majority of participants agree with the new safety measures. According to the poll, 75 percent of voters felt the new wording on the tickets was a good idea.
Students at BYU also voiced their opinion in favor of Six Flags? stance.
?I?m assuming if they do something like that, they have good reason,? said Bridgette Brinkerhoff, a senior, majoring in sociology, from Oakland, Mich. ?It?s probably something that?s necessary, because do you honestly want registered sex offenders walking around a theme park with a bunch of kids? That?s a huge, huge danger.?
Joshua Meeks, a senior, majoring in exercise science, from Salt Lake City, agreed with Six Flags, but for a different reason.
?I?m kind of indifferent, but more so I think it?s a good idea,? he said. ?They have the right to do it. They don?t have the right to know everyone?s personal information, but it?s their property, so they should have a right to kick sex offenders out if they want.'