Gonna be sick if I hear about another murdered child!

[Reframer]

:yuck: That's all, I had to vent. There are little kid's bodies being found almost every day on the news. I can't take it anymore... I have 3 young kids and I guess I can never let them out of my sight until they are college aged.

[froglover007]

It is extremely rare, but it is still good to keep an eye out.

[debaric]

I feel you, im sick of seeing it too and I feel like its happening more than it has in the past. Unfortunately we live in a sick sick world and its something you have to consider when you have children. They should take every child murderer, throw em in a large pit and set em on fire.

[UncaBret]

They should take every child murderer, throw em in a large pit and set em on fire.
Can't do that. It would be "cruel and unusual punishment"!!!

[froglover007]

Another thing is that the vast majority of murders, especially child murders, are domestic, so they are not done by strangers, rather someone who knows the kid well like the parents.

[bluekrissyspike]

the number could be cut way down if people didn't let their kids outside along and left abusive relationships.

[PuppyFluffer]

I have three small children as well.
I am a stay at home mother. I homeschool.
I do these things for many reasons. One is so I can know where they are and that they are safe. If someone gets my child, they will have to get me first.

It's so very sad that children can't walk home from a bus stop. It is also sad that parents don't arrange for their safety on the trip home.

It's such a complex issue. Not everyone can tailor their lives to stay at home. Not everyone has afterschool care available. Socially, we don't value parenting so we don't support parents in caring for their children.....that's a whole different discussion.

That there are those that prey upon children is the deepest level of sickness. I cannot fathom hurting a child - EVER!

[DrgRcr]

It breaks my heart to see these crimes against children, especially younger ones who can't defend themselves:(. But it's also disturbing to me that ANYONE would let their 7-year old walk a mile home from anywhere alone. I have a 7 year old, and I can't imagine me letting him walk 2 blocks alone! Unfortunately, this is the nutcase world we live in. I hope the scum that do these things get just what they deserve, and I'm not talking about jail. Remember the father on the pay phone in an airport when they brought the accused molester of his child in? THAT'S justice served.

[Pearl]

May I introduce a bit of reality here? Children are no more likely to be kidnapped and murdered now than they were fifty years ago, at least not in the USA. In fact, they have a better chance of being struck by lightning.
As for the number one killer of American children, that would be vehicular accidents. Yep. That's right. Statistically, those children who walk two blocks or two miles are safer than those who are driven two blocks or two miles.

[DarrylR]

My forensic psychology asked us one day, "is murder rare?". And 99.99999% said no, I said yes because it is usually a trick question just in case. ( I do not remember my reasoning.) But than he stood up and wrote on the board the population of the county we reside in. Than slashed the numbers repeatedly and repeatedly to a very low and insignificant number. Thus showing murder is indeed rare and only buffed up through the media when other misdemeanor crimes are more apparent just not shown through the media as much than murder. That murder has been blown up so much, the percentage wise is actually lower than what everyone else expects.

Even in law, celebrity cases are at the most top tier of the court cases to be reviewed first.

[PuppyFluffer]

Our age of instant news and our fascination with the most horrific make the attention on these sorts of stories very focused.

I agree, the chances of your child suffering murder at the hands of strangers is extremely rare....but when it's your child, statistics don't matter.

[Ianne]

maybe not the best comment but im sure its worse in other countrys
and you cant really give small children tazers and spray (although mostly tied as a feminine defense weapon) but some people have little choice in letting their kids walk home alone but they have odd things like whistles, alarm switchs and just teaching awareness when they are little

[petluvr]

Like others have said I don't think it is happening more today than 50 years ago it's just that you hear about it now. Still sad that these little lives are cut so short.

[thorpbrian]

I'm still of the opinion that this doesn't happen anymore than it used to. You just hear about it more now because there are litterally thousands of media platforms. Back in the day you rarely heard about anything that happened outside your area, now most people who want to hear about this type of stuff know every incident. If your a good parent and teach your kids right you can let them live as normal a life as at any other time in our history.

On a side note any person convicted of killing a child should have a mandatory death sentence.

Edit: And by teaching your kids right I mean telling them beforehand how to react in these type of situations. IE, don't talk to strangers on the street, make sure your child knows a safe house anywhere your kids might be walking, tell your kids to scream fire any time someone suspiciously approaches them in a public place (especially restrooms), etc...

[Zaffy]

I think it's less dangerous now than is ever has been.

[dundadundun]

Can't do that. It would be "cruel and unusual punishment"!!!

it is not cruel in comparison... and would not be unusual if we did it more often. ;)


Another thing is that the vast majority of murders, especially child murders, are domestic, so they are not done by strangers, rather someone who knows the kid well like the parents.

this is a significant point in my opinion. let's still not forget the countless unspeakable acts that go along with such twisted adult/child close relationships. some things are just downright... well, i'm finally at a loss for words!


On a side note any person convicted of killing a child should have a mandatory death sentence.

Edit: And by teaching your kids right I mean telling them beforehand how to react in these type of situations. IE, don't talk to strangers on the street, make sure your child knows a safe house anywhere your kids might be walking, tell your kids to scream fire any time someone suspiciously approaches them in a public place (especially restrooms), etc...

AMEN.

[debaric]

many of you will disagree with me on this, and i understand why, but someone mentioned pepper spray. I think certain circumstances could justify a child carrying mace or pepper spray. If they absolutely had to walk home in a not so great area and you insist that nobody knows they are carrying it, why not allow a child to keep it safely concealed? It would be a huge issue with schools if they knew about it and its also illegal for a minor to carry, but I would consider it to keep my child safe (btw im not a parent). Its not lethal and would easily disable any attacker.

[Strawberri001]

Hmm this reminds me of this boy I see almost every time I am in a town near by, he has to walk from his school all the way home which is in an entirely different town.. Roughly.. 10 miles? Every day after school I see this boy, I always want to stop and give him a ride but kids are so afraid of strangers (for good reason) he'd probably just run off..