Making Not Reporting Your Child Missing a Felony

With all the attention that has been focused on the Casey Anthony trial lately, I decided to write about a new bill being considered that would make it a felony if you did not report your child missing within 24 hours.  The following is a website that discusses the cause: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/07/13/not-reporting-missing-child-would-be-felony-under-bill.html

The basis of the bill is centered around the Casey Anthony trial.  Even though the consensus seems to be that America was convinced that Casey Anthony was going to be convicted of murdering her little girl, Caylee Anthony. With the jury handing down a not-guilty verdict on all of the main charges, the country is outraged. Protests have been seen all over the place as well as vigils and support walks being organized in support of Caylee Anthony, the three year old little girl that was found murdered around the corner from her grandparents’ house. One of the shocking points was that the little girl was missing for 31 days before the police was notified.  Shockingly, her mother was still not the one to report her missing. Her grandmother called the police. Casey Anthony began giving false statements to police about the whereabouts of her daughter.  Interestingly, this is what she was convicted of: four counts of providing false information to police.

The outcries for Caylee have been phenomenal. America wants justice for Caylee Anthony.  One of the avenues that have been chosen for this justice is a bill that would make it a felony for parents not to report their child missing within 24 hours.  I think that a lot of people did not realize not reporting a child missing was not such a serious crime. Now, they have been slapped in the face with it and as I said they want justice for this poor little girl, Caylee Anthony.

Personally, I could never imagine not reporting my child missing immediately after I realized that something was wrong and my child was missing. I would much rather be safe than sorry especially when it comes to my children.  The idea that someone could have a child that was missing and the parent did not report the child missing is unreal for “normal” people.  The fact that the child could be missing for over 30 days is completely senseless for most people. I know I could not even phantom a reason for not reporting my missing child. Fortunately, I have never been placed in a situation where I would have any reason to know that the non-reporting is anything less than a serious charge.  It has certainly opened my eyes to what someone can possibly get away with in our great country.  A defenseless child has been murdered and the idea that it could have been prevented by a report made to the police at an earlier time is devastating.  I think that those that fail to report a child missing should most certainly be charged with a felony and should receive jail time and/or a very strict fine.  Children are our responsibility and we have to take that responsibility seriously.  We must create an avenue for justice for Caylee as well as all of the children that have or will ever suffer if this is not done.