Nebraska Agrees to Age Limit on Safe Haven Law
Monday, October 20, 2008
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Nebraska lawmakers have agreed to rewrite the state's controversial "safe haven" law so it only applies to infants three days old and younger. The decision to change the law came after several parents began dropping off children, some as old as 17. One parent even crossed state lines to ditch their child. The law, orignally designed to discourage new mothers who have unwanted newborns from dumping the babies in unsafe places like dumpsters, allowed children to be dropped off at any hospital or fire station without risk of prosecution.
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Email4 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
If you want to ditch your child, take them to me! Some of us can not conceive!
- Anon
It’s not ok for women to dump unwanted newborns in dumpsters, but it’s ok for them to dump unwanted 3 month olds? DUMB DUMB DUMB. If they are willing to kill a 3 day old baby who they “can’t handle”, why wouldn’t they do it for an older baby/toddler if they realize they can’t handle them?
- Crystal
Yeah, I’m a little disturbed by the 3 days old and younger language… I’m thinking that the effect was to protect babies in general so I think it should apply to a child of any age. The fact that some people were dropping off 17 year olds, well, then I think that should be allowed, too—given the recent case in WA state of the 14 year old being held captive. Obviously a child of any age can be subjected to abuse, so if a parent has an option to drop their child off and give up custody, then so be it. I’d rather it err on the side of safety for the child than to prevent the ‘inconvenience’ of having the law abused/misused by those seeking to drop off older children.
- mary
There should be NO AGE restriction on a safety issue. Shame on anyone who thinks otherwise. Safe Havens should be used for exactly that! A safe place to go to, no matter what the circumstance. Leave it to the professionals running the safe haven to figure out the next step. In these day’s of families not having enough money for food to feed their kids, something has to give. Safety is an issue confronting millions of americans now a days. We have to make exceptions to the rules. What are the alternitives? Should he/she have to sell their bodies on the street for food? Think about it. What is left for these people to do? It isn’t their fault, they didn’t ask for this to happen to them. Where are they to go? Shelters house them overnight only for a certain number of days, them kick them out on the street. They either have to find another shelter, or, sleep on the streets. Been there, done that, SCARY ! ! Our laws NEED to be changed. We need to start careing for our own. And if we really can’t, OR won’t, for God’s sake, Allow them a safe haven. Lets find ways of providing for them. Running them properly. Having them be profitable, as well as useful. Here’s to all of the Haven’s out there who really care about people, NOT AGES! God Bless you…..everyone!
- A 53 year old Safe Haven User
