30 YEARS LATER: SERIAL KILLER TED BUNDY''S FINAL INTERVIEW STILL HAUNTS US
by Luke Gibbons
At 7:06 a.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 1989, 42-years-old Ted Bundy
was executed in Raiford Prison in Starke, Florida. Bundy was one
of America’s most brutal and terrifying serial killers and
rapists. He admitted to 30 homicides across the country between
1974 and 1978. The actual count is unknown and may be much higher.
Please understand that this story is not meant to infer that
everyone who watches pornography will become a violent criminal.
But some of the chilling comments he made about the effects of
pornography on his horrible actions still serve as a warning about
the harmful aspects of porn usage.
The night before his death, Bundy was interviewed by Dr. James
Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family. During the 45-minute
conversation, Bundy told Dr. Dobson about the effect his
pornography addiction had on his life.
Pornography Played A Major Role
As you read his comments, be aware that Bundy was well-known
for giving conflicting information and often changed his facts
about the same story several times to manipulate the situation at
the moment.
It could have been that Bundy was just trying to blame porn
for his violent actions since he was talking with someone who was
completely anti-pornography. So it cannot be known for sure to
what extent pornography actually impacted his life. But It
certainly impacted other lives – those of his victims and their
families – and his statements are worth considering.
“Like most other kinds of addiction,“ he said, “I would keep
looking for more potent, more explicit, the most graphic kinds of
material. Like an addiction, you keep craving something harder,
something which gives you a greater sense of excitement.”
Bundy added, “I’ve lived in prison a long time now. I’ve met a
lot of men who were motivated to commit violence just like me. And
without exception, every one of them was deeply involved in
pornography…There’s no question about it. The FBI’s own study on
serial homicide shows that the most common interest among serial
killers is pornography.”
Sex Crimes Often Involve Porn
Studies support that porn does play a major role in sex
crimes.
A Michigan State Police report showed that in 41 percent of
sexual assault cases, porn was viewed just prior to or during the
crime.
A University of New Hampshire study showed that the highest
rape rates are in states that have high sales of porn magazines.
Research found that adult porn was connected with each of
1,400 sexual abuse cases in Louisville, Kentucky. The majority of
them were also connected with child porn.
Other studies found that heavy use of the type of porn sold at
adult bookstores matched an increased willingness to commit rape
or other forced sexual acts.
The FBI said porn is found at 80 percent of the scenes of
violent sex crimes, or in the homes of the offender. Police
officers say that porn use is one of the most common profile
traits of serial murderers and rapists.
Dr. Dobson noted, “There is very little restraint on what the
pornographers are able to produce and sell in this country. And
remember this: Hunters read hunting magazines, fishermen read
fishing magazines, computer specialists read computer magazines,
and you can be sure that men who find it exciting to assault women
sexually read magazines and watch videos that depict that terrible
abuse.”
Pornography Is Pervasive
While a man’s porn addiction may never lead him to do such
terrible crimes, porn is still harmful.
Porn use has mushroomed in the last 30 years. What was
considered soft porn back then – air-brushed models in magazines –
has evolved into unbridled, ‘anything goes’ filth and perversion.
With the internet, pornography has become much more pervasive.
What was once only available in adult stores is now available at
the click of a button.
The Church Must Take Action
The church cannot remain silent and try to ignore the plague
of pornography. Porn is not simply a problem of the unchurched.
One study reports that 68% of churchgoing men struggle with
pornography.
Here is a chilling statement from Bundy that is a wake-up call
for all churches:
“I was essentially a normal person. I had good friends. I
lived a normal life, except for this one small, but very potent,
very destructive segment of it that I kept very secret, very close
to myself, and didn’t let anybody know about… I think people need
to recognize that those of us who have been so much influenced by
violence in the media–in particular pornographic violence–are not
some kinds of inherent monsters.”
“We are your sons, and we are your husbands. And we grew up in
regular families. And pornography can reach out and snatch a kid
out of any house today. It snatched me out of my home twenty,
thirty years ago, as diligent as my parents were, and they were
diligent in protecting their children. And as good a Christian
home as we had–and we had a wonderful Christian home–there is no
protection against the kinds of influences that there are loose in
a society.”
In other words, he seemed to be just like a guy sitting in
your pews.
There Is Help Available
You do not have to fight your porn battle alone. In fact,
studies show that most likely there are many other men in your
church who also struggle.
If you are a church leader, you need to address this issue
with your men now. There are more resources available now than
ever before to help you address pornography in your community.
The Conquer Series is a powerful cinematic series designed to
help men break free from porn addiction. It can be used in small
group settings or done on an individual basis.
Matthew Cook is one of the nearly one million men who have
been through the Conquer Series. He describes it’s impact on his
life…
“This series has helped change my life. The healing it has
caused has revolutionized my relationship with my wife, kids, and
the people at church. The only thing I regret is not having this
15 years ago.”
Men like Ted Bundy remind us that pornography addiction is not
to be taken lightly. But through God’s grace and the teachings of
the Conquer Series, you can find freedom.
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