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Dragonlady8
Black Widow
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Posts: 9198
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 Posted: Aug 24, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: Nebraska law allows abandonment of teens |
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Hey Rocko- I guess your parents are sad that this wasn't around when you were a teenager.  
| Quote: | Nebraska law allows abandonment of teens
‘Safe-havens’ potentially permit parents to drop off kids as old as 19
The Associated Press
updated 6:05 p.m. ET, Fri., Aug. 22, 2008
OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska’s new “safe-haven” law allowing parents to abandon unwanted children at hospitals with no questions asked is unique in a significant way: It goes beyond babies and potentially permits the abandonment of anyone under 19.
While lawmakers may not have intended it, the month-old law raises the possibility that frustrated parents could drop off misbehaving teens or even severely disabled older children with impunity.
“Whether the kid is disabled or unruly or just being a hormonal teenager, the state is saying: ’Hey, we have a really easy option for you,”’ said Adam Pertman, executive director of a New York adoption institute and a frequent critic of safe-haven laws.
Nebraska’s approach is surprising because it is the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law.
State's law covers all minors
But instead of following the lead of other states, which focus on the abandonment of newborns, lawmakers here wanted to extend the protection to all minors. And in Nebraska, that goes all the way up to age 19.
“All children deserve our protection,” said Sen. Tom White, who helped broaden the measure. “If we save one child from being abused, it’s well, well worth it.”
White said it doesn’t matter if that child is an infant or 3 years old or in the care of a parent or baby sitter. As for what constitutes a minor, he refers to common law, which interprets it to be anyone under age 14.
State Sen. Arnie Stuthman, who introduced the original bill dealing only with infants, agreed to the compromise after the bill became stalled in debate.
“The main interest I have is that it gives the mother or a parent another option of what to do with a child before they do something drastic,” he said.
The measure, which took effect July 18, does not absolve people of possible criminal charges — for example, if a child had been beaten.
And since the law does not specify, it technically allows anyone, not just a parent, to legally surrender custody. Most other states narrowly define the role of the person surrendering the child.
Some hospitals have fielded questions from the public about the law, but no children have been dropped off. |
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Wakebrad
Ladies Man
Joined: 11 Dec 2003
Posts: 12257
City: Dallas
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| Posted: Aug 24, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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It actually makes sense to me. Any parent who could drop their kid off (no matter the age) at a hospital and just bail doesn't care enough about them to take care of them in the first place. I don't know that much about foster homes but I don't see how that could be any worse. A foster home is better than death by neglect.
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Neognosis
Ladies Man
Joined: 13 Jan 2003
Posts: 17617
City: Webster
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| Posted: Aug 25, 2008 5:07 am Post subject: |
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I agree with wakebrad. Anyone who could willingly abandon their child shouldn't be raising them anyway, and anyone who was in such dire straits that they had to..well, better that than a kid lives on the street, I suppose.
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J_DOGG
PityDaFool Who Posts This Much
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Posts: 5088
City: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Aug 25, 2008 6:15 am Post subject: |
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So why not just make it harder for people to have kids in the first place?
YES - like a combination financial and psychological prepared aptitude test.
You don't make the grade no kids for you! sterilization chip stays in, come back in two years when you are ready to take the test again.
I'll be fair and allow the bar to be set low.
You know - solve the problem before it's a problem type deal...
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Rocko
Old School Freak
Joined: 12 Jan 2003
Posts: 3745
City: Omaha
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| Posted: Aug 26, 2008 8:35 am Post subject: |
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What was messed up was that we didn't have a "safe haven" law prior to this at all. Pretty f'ed up.
I was a great son Dlady, and my mom always told me I was handsome.  |
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lcap
Ladies Man
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 10973
City: Homeless
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| Posted: Aug 26, 2008 11:12 am Post subject: |
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Nothing like making it easy for people.  Have an argument, get divorced. Don't want your kid, drop them off. What an effed up Country we live in!!
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Rocko
Old School Freak
Joined: 12 Jan 2003
Posts: 3745
City: Omaha
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| Posted: Aug 26, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| lcap, it's better than just putting your kid inside a dumpster though? Right? |
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lcap
Ladies Man
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 10973
City: Homeless
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| Posted: Aug 26, 2008 11:30 am Post subject: |
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Rocko,
I've always had a difficult time picking between worse vs. worse. The parents should be put in jail if they have no money. If they do garnish the piss out of them for life.
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