Abandoned children in Nebraska.?

Unfortunately, people are abusing that law, which was put in place to protect infants from being thrown in dumpsters, and other such crimes. The law has a good point, and it should save lives, but they should have determined an age, before passing it, cause the only kids being dropped off since that law passed, are teenagers. I don't understand how parents can raise their child to that age, then just say, see ya. The lady who dropped of the girl in the news article will be prosecuted. They need to set an example. I read the story about the man who dropped off his 9 children, when it first happened, and a lot of his family members now have the children. Why he couldn't have just asked them in the first place is beyond me.

Pippin

I think, as with many things that make tabloid news, people are jumping on ONE (or a small handful of cases) and using it as proof that something horrible is going on.

So ... one overwhelmed dad brought his kids to the hospital and left them there. This proves nothing, except that HE was overwhelmed and saw a solution in the new law.

About a decade ago, an overwhelmed mom in my state put her kids in the car and drove the wrong way down the highway until someone hit her head-on. She survived. All her kids and everyone in the other car died. I have to think that Nebraska's solution makes more sense all around.

Every state is more than willing to take kids from their parents if the kids are neglected and abused. So why NOT offer a solution before things get to that point?

Nebraskacutie

The Nebraska Safe-Haven Law in my opinion is a great law. So many children, babies, in Nebraska have been left to die in ditches, along rivers etc in our state because they didn't have the option to take the baby to a hospital, drop it off, with no quesitons asked. We needed this law for the sake of the children.

I don't think parents should be prosecuted for dropping off older children. Some of these kids have been dropped off because the parent can not control the child, they are abusive to other siblings. The parent had no idea their child would be like this when it was a baby. One of the other stories, the one with the truck load of kids where the mother died & just the dad was taking care of them. I'm not so sure that this wasn't good for the kids because it sounds like the father didn't take care of them anyway and he is a little slow intellectually.

I think there should be restrictions to the law toward older children such as there being a dicipline issue with the child. But, this law was made to protect children and if their parents don't care for them or can't handle them then I'm all for the child being dropped off. Hopefully they can have a better life.

Groovy

Well, I guess it's better than infanticide. But, parents can drop their babies off at any hospital...they don't have to cross state lines to do it.

Katie H

My thoughts are, as a resident of Nebraska I'm really hoping lawmakers are kicking themselves in the rear this time. I've lived in other states with Safe Haven Laws and NE's just doesn't make sense to me. Someone dropped off a large number of kids ranging in ages of 9 to 17 a couple weeks ago. Programs are available for these people if they knew where to look. We need to get them that help before they turn into suicidal murdering teenagers in our shopping malls. Yes I think that parent should be prosecuted considering Iowa's law says a maximum of 2 weeks old which is how I believe Nebraska's law should read. The point of the law is to prevent young mothers from abandoning or killing their babies, not an out for uneducated or overwhelmed parents. There are days I'm overwhelmed but I'd never abandon my children. Millie, you obviously didn't read the article. The child dropped off was 14, not an infant. An infant is different than a 14 year old. I don't think that parent was thinking, a temporary situation could be resolved with a simple call to human services. Simply say you need some help and they might be willing to find you classes or daycare to help you out until things get easier.

Not Adopted

I think it proves that some parents are becoming so overwhelmed and desperate they will resort to anything.

Very sad that good resources aren't available to help struggling parents when they are in dire straights. That would help to prevent these acts of desperation.

As for this law, it is very flawed - abandoment should never be made legal.

anastasia beaverhausen-the real1

as a teen, you have the possibility of chasing your parents down.

as an adoptee, it's against the law in closed adoption.

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