What follows is the text from an email I sent in to Walmart. I am very disappointed with the situation described below, and I'm curious as to if my view here is extreme or normal. Tell me what you think.

Original Message:

On 7/11/02, at approx. 9:30 pm, my 18 year old son witnessed a minor (approx. 12 years old) being sexually abused by an adult in the mens room. He reported this to a manager, who confirmed that 2 people were in the stall but would not press further with investigating due to privacy concerns. The two were observed a short time later leaving the store and the child was overheard by an employee calling the man 'daddy'. I realize that your corporation probably has no clearly defined procedure for a situation like this and if not, that needs to change. I spoke with the County Attorney (Pike County, Ky), who felt that Walmart really dropped the ball on this one. If a customer reports child abuse, ESPECIALLY abuse of a sexual nature, then Walmart should be take action by identifying the abuser and at least getting a license plate number to give to the authorities. Of course, I concede that the customer who witnesses the abuse must be the one willing to make a statement to the authorities, as Walmart cannot justify such action based on hearsay. In this particular case, my son was willing to do so, but Walmart was not willing to take further action. I spoke with the night manager and I am satisfied that he did all he could do within the legal limits of the law and corporate policy in this situation. You can call me old fashioned if you like, but I believe that Walmart has a MORAL obligation to its customers and the community to provide its employees with a clear set of policies regarding this type of issue. Although my son and I intend to do everything in our power to help the authorities in this situation, there is a child out there today who is being sexually abused. He has no hope of seeing this abuse end, no way to be counseled back into normal society. Statistically speaking, he will probably be a perpetrator of sexual abuse as an adult. The probability that he will develop homicidal tendencies will increase exponentially. By taking no action, it is very probable that your corporation has assisted in the creation of another predator of children. You had a chance to break this cycle and you blew it. I'm doing everything I can to try to help this child. I hope that in the future, Walmart will do the same. PLEASE change your policies.