11 Kids Abandoned in 24 Hours
Thursday, September 25, 2008
How can this even be legal?
Last week, we told you that child abandonment was now legal in Nebraska. Under their new "safe haven law," a parent or legal guardian can leave an unwanted child under the age of 19 at any hospital without fear of prosecution. Now parents are dumping their kids in droves. 11 kids have been abandoned in the past 24 hours. Eleven! Just unbelievable.
A father left his nine children, ages one to 17, in an emergency room last night. Then an eight-year-old boy was left at another hospital at 5 PM and an 11-year-old boy was taken to the same hospital at 8:30 PM.
To date, 14 children have been abandoned under the safe haven law. Seven of those children were teens. Lawmakers said these cases illustrate a problem many feared when the law was passed -- that parents might be tempted to abandon teens not because of any real danger, but simply because they can't control them.
Do you think these parents should be prosecuted? Could you ever abandon your own kid?
Email20 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
There was a mother about two years ago up here who killed her 3 teenage boys…It turned out that she had mental illness… and if I recall correctly she said that her kids were out of control…. If she had had another option to leave her kids at the ER would she have taken that option instead? There’s no way to know that, but, at least the option would’ve been available. I would much rather see kids left at a hospital than see another tragedy. If parents can’t control their teens and can’t afford family counseling they can begin to feel like they’re at the end of their rope… I think having this option is a way to help avoid what could become a terrible tragedy. Should parents who leave their kids be prosecuted? NO! Prosecution of parents who abandon their kids in a safe way will only detour others from using this much needed option. However, I do think that the children & the parents should be given counseling.
- ak mom
I think it is the most horrible law I have ever heard. These children are going to grow up so damaged feeling like garbage thrown away. A young child needs a mom and dad. What was the reason behind this law? Who would give away all there children? Change that law!!!!!!!
- Kathay
I can’t imagine the damage that is going to be done to future generations. However, with so many out of control children in our society, I can’t say that there isn’t a need.
- Michelle
i think this is just sad!! there is no way i could ever do that to my kids. but in a way they are right… meaning…. its best to leave the kids where they will be safe instead of hurting them physically! no matter how you look at it the kids will be hurt in more then one way mentally, but i still think this is wrong! if you can not handle being a responsible mother or father then DONT have kids… children and not just a dog you can drop off and expect to find a new home.. (dont do that to dogs either) children are gifts from God that we need to take care of for as long as we can!! love you kids while you have them, give them everything you can… things now days are going so fast that you miss everything in a blink of an eye…
- ~ me ~
I think it is better hearing 11 healthy, safe kids abandon at a hospital rather than 11 kids died. So, it may be horrible to some, but it could be worse.
- Marquita
In this economy, it’s possible the parent(s) are unable to feed them anymore. And I also think that we are jumping to conclusions by thinking the teenagers must be to blame. Why leave a one year old if another child is causing trouble-no, there has to be more than that——-I do feel the parents were not using good judgment by having that many children but we learn what we live and maybe that’s how they were raised.
- Joyce
Recently in the town I livein a father shot and killed his 13-year-old son, I would rather read that he was abonned, the whole town is in shock.
- M.L.
Although it is very sad that people continue to have children when they either don’t want them or incapable of taking care of them it is much better to have a safe place for children. Who knows what was happening in these homes. Maybe the children are better off not being with these parents.
- katie
i truly do not know what is worse, to be with a parent that does not want you or to be abandoned by them…trauma, pain, rejection, no escape in neither situation. A dad left his nine children, why? Before this law, they’re dealing with their responsibility, now the law helps them to neglect their responsibility.
- Marie E. Ayuso
As a child who was abandoned at the age of 8 i think the parents for the most part should be prosecuted My Mother simply just wanted a younger man and did not care about me or my 5 older brothers so she left us in a trailer to figure things out Thank God my Dad found out a week later a came to get us…But there asre cases where parents have no money or food no matter what they try to provide and that to them is a safe way out,,,, That law should never have been passed it is to easy of away out for all the parents in the world like my Mother. I know have 3 boys and my oldest is 18, he leaves in July to go into the Navy and I stop breathing everytime I think of Him leaving, and can not even imagine what my life would be like without any of them they are my air
- unnamed
Can these children be adopted now??
- Pam
good moring everyone- I think this law is crazy. in my days has a kid my parents raised my brother and I. They took on that responbilty and did expect someone to give them a easy out. I am just amazed that has a society we have come to this some say to keep our children safe and yet how safe are they really when given away? Has a parent I could not do this I could not even think of this for my children either they are my light and I would rather be the one they call for help and call mom for the rest of their lives. so I have mixed feelings with this but most of me says this is just plain sad for all concerned.
- deedee
This is a sign of the times. People are not prepared to take responsibility for their actions and then land up with kids they can’t control/feed/discipline/love. It’s too sad. Even if the law wasn’t there these kids would probably be ignored/abused/maltreated/underfed and be left feeling just as bad as though they’d been dumped. Kids react according to what we as parents show them. This is just a reflection of a loveless and irresponsible society. At least when they’re dumped in the hospital they hopefully will be shown some kindness by professionals. And yes of course they’ll feel like trash but then I think they haven’t ever received love or they wouldn’t be just dropped off at the hospital would they?
- Claudia
If they can make a law for it to be ok not to take responsibility for your children that you brought into this world then they should be making regulations for having children in the first place!
- Niki
what is wrong with people?i cant believe they passed a law like that and how does one abandon a 17 tr old teen?thats legal age where i live
- renee
i am crossed between how i feel, but i do know that the safe haven laws are very important when the children are first born and very young. The law that you may drop off your baby at a hospital, or police station should be more widely known!!! I dont think i would ever leave my teenage child or any child.
- Sami
I agree with some of the points but not with all. I think it is a good thing to have a safe haven law for people that would consider possibly harming their baby. Another question that should be asked is, would you want to place the child for adoption? Depending on what the answers are, that will determine if there is any chance the mother and father can decide if there is any hope to raise the baby. If it cannot be done the traditional way, then it must be the way it is. For older kids to be abandoned is a different thing. These people deserve to be locked up. You made a choice to have a child, now at the very least especially after the child has lived with it’s parents for a determined number of years is detrimental and wrongful. There should be access to counseling and other childrens services around, but CPS tends to go after cases that have no serious violations, but just in case type of cases, or the real serious ones, which will need ongoing support or services. It is partly also the way in which society process a lack of faith, and belief in anything but immediate happiness and immediate gratification. Having children is the easy part, maintaining and keeping head and house together are another. Mind you it’s getting harder with the government and Wall Street and what have you, but to abandon your kids is senseless.
- Gloria
I would never abandon my child she is 16 now and I am dreading the day she decides to move out I don’t know what I will do without her. But there are people out there who do not care for their children or cannot care for their children, I would rather see them abandoned at a safe place than killed or left on the streets somewhere.
- lynne
Excuse me. At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely. I am from Turkey and learning to write in English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “Advantage flea control for dogs under lbs.” Regards ;-) Bella.
- Bella
How are you. What children take from us, they give?We become people who feel more deeply, question more deeply, hurt more deeply, and love more deeply. I am from Kuwait and also now am reading in English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: “The use availability season risk sits use.” Best regards :P, Fletcher.
- Fletcher
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