Quoting:
I'm sure many of you have already heard of this:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/07/17/girl.abducted/index.html

This is horrible, and it seems sh*t like this is happening more and more.
End Quote

Yeah, and it's not very far from where I live (I was at the Cleveland Natl. Forest a few weeks ago). For the body to be found so easily, the killer definitely wanted the remains to be found (BTW, Stanton is not that great of a city to live in...). Our priorities as a society have gone so out of whack. I mean, we can find automobiles and pets faster than people. Don't we have such technology nowadays where we could implant some sort of chip and use it as a homing device? Perhaps we wouldn't have so many missing children. The other choice would be to have the way England has it and install cameras EVERYWHERE... just an idea.

Tarzan Boy

Quoting:

Don't we have such technology nowadays where we could implant some sort of chip and use it as a homing device? Perhaps we wouldn't have so many missing children. The other choice would be to have the way England has it and install cameras EVERYWHERE... just an idea.

Tarzan Boy
End Quote

I agree with the ACLU on very few things, but their fight against such tracking devices is one of them. If you, as a parent, want to have some sort of chip implanted under your child's skin then that's fine and dandy, but it should never be mandated by the government. I also dislike the idea of being watched everywhere I go. Inside a store is one thing -  merchants have a right to protect their property - but while I am out in common public areas I should be free from surveillance. Smacks way too much of Big Brother.

Quoting:
Their are easier ways to keep your kids safe, Before we start injecting "tracking deviceses" in our kids. Maybe we should look at who is to blame in this situation. The blame here falls on two people the grandmother, and the kidnapper. the grandmother left her five year old unattended, Not in a enclosed back yard of a private residence, but in an appartment complex where 100+ people live.  Maybe If the grandmother would have been a little more responsible, maybe the girl would still be alive.  
End Quote

This is the thing that is so sad about the growing dangers of the society we live in. When I was five years old, my parents thought nothing of letting me walk five houses up the street to play with friends. When I was 7, I spent hours with the same friends (ages 5 and 10) with no adult in the house, (their parents worked) and my parents thought nothing of that either...

Today, a child cannot even play safely in their own yard. I would not be too hard on the grandmother, as she was raised in a gentler time, and it is hard to get into the mindset that such things can happen when you were not raised that way. I know, you can watch the news, but the reality of that often does not offset what you remember from your own childhood... :'(

Quoting:
Their are easier ways to keep your kids safe, Before we start injecting "tracking deviceses" in our kids. Maybe we should look at who is to blame in this situation. The blame here falls on two people the grandmother, and the kidnapper. the grandmother left her five year old unattended, Not in a enclosed back yard of a private residence, but in an appartment complex where 100+ people live.  Maybe If the grandmother would have been a little more responsible, maybe the girl would still be alive.  
End Quote

OUCH!!! that hurts but it IS the truth. As the father of two young boys it saddens me to think what this family must be going through, my prayers(and tears :'() are with them. I cant for the life of me understand what would make a person do such a terrible thing to an innocent child...
           

Quoting:
Their are easier ways to keep your kids safe, Before we start injecting "tracking deviceses" in our kids. Maybe we should look at who is to blame in this situation. The blame here falls on two people the grandmother, and the kidnapper. the grandmother left her five year old unattended, Not in a enclosed back yard of a private residence, but in an appartment complex where 100+ people live.  Maybe If the grandmother would have been a little more responsible, maybe the girl would still be alive.  
End Quote

Exactly! Not that this guy shouldn't have his "pee-pee" cut off with a butter knife BUT, most of the time something bad happens to a kid, somehow the parents are partially at fault. The Van Damme case for instance. And everytime you hear a big hubbub about a kid being hit and run, you end up finding out that they were 5 and riding their trike at midnight in the middle of the street.

Quoting:


I agree with the ACLU on very few things, but their fight against such tracking devices is one of them. If you, as a parent, want to have some sort of chip implanted under your child's skin then that's fine and dandy, but it should never be mandated by the government. I also dislike the idea of being watched everywhere I go. Inside a store is one thing -  merchants have a right to protect their property - but while I am out in common public areas I should be free from surveillance. Smacks way too much of Big Brother.
End Quote

I agree with you, Lester.  I am against tracking devices for other reasons, also.  Being a Born Again Christian, it sounds too much like the Mark of the Beast to me.  I don't mean to start a debate about this...this is just my opinion.

I want them to find this man quickly.  The newspapers are saying that he will more than likely strike again.  It scares me to death...my daughter is 4 and loves to be outside.  I really need to put in a fence (with razor wire on top).  My thoughts and prayers are with the family. :'(

Quoting:

Many parents would have given-up their children's innocence 100 times over had they realized that knowledge was best for their children's safety and well-being. Many parents would have given-up their children's innocence 100 times over had they realized that knowledge could have saved their children from dangerous situations and in some cases their children's lives.
End Quote

This is so true, Hairspray.  The hardest thing I have ever done is tell my daughter that this man killed the little girl.  That she is never going home.  My daughter is overly friendly and that scares me.  I have been emphasizing that you shouldn't talk to any stranger.  The bad ones don't always look mean.  She got my point yesterday with our discussion.  I just don't know how long the idea will stick.  

Quoting:
There is a way for parents to help protect their children from these awful situations -

Education.

It's too late for the Runnions, but not for the rest of the parents, grandparents, guardians and children of the world.

An excellent video, which is used in many schools, is an excellent first step:

STRONG KIDS -- SAFE KIDS

(43 minutes)  

Kids, as well as parents, will learn about the dangers youngsters have to watch out for every day of their lives, including sexual molestation and abduction.

A few lessons included:

Children should know about sex, sexuality and the facts of life by the time they enter elementary school/the age of 5 and know the correct names for private parts, how to protect themselves from sexual offenders, strangers, how to not be tricked with stories like the one in Samantha Runnion's case in which the stranger used the "Puppy" trick. Children and parents alike are shown how to communicate effectively about these very sensitive issues in an intelligent and fun way. Cartoon characters like Scooby Doo, Pac-Man, The Smurfs, The Flintstones help children feel comfortable and connected.

My opinion:

Some may be concerned about children growing-up too fast or losing their innocence because of the possible "adultization" of educational programs which are meant to do just that - educate.

End Quote

I can understand teaching a Five year old to watch out for strangers, and that sort of thing, but teaching them about sex? that's just wrong, IMHO.  Most these cases recentley have been the fault of adults, maybe it's the adults that need some education.

Quoting:


I can understand teaching a Five year old to watch out for strangers, and that sort of thing, but teaching them about sex? that's just wrong, IMHO. End Quote

No, no. It wouldn't be a taudry lesson about sex, but a matter-of-fact lesson on how babies are made and how the process is a perfectly normal part of nature. In teaching this, one would include safety lessons.

Sex should not be a taboo subject between parents and their children. Parents and their children should be able to communicate about anything and everything effectively.

It's an embarrasing subject for many and some may not even feel comfortable talking about their own sexuality. When it comes to the safety of their children, however, parents should consider that many children who are sexually abused or molested do not know how to explain it or if they even should because of their lack of education and communication on the subject with their own parents.

Aside from the horrors of sexual abuse and molestation, children should be able to know about sex and sexuality for the simple reason that it is a natural part of adult life.

http://www.talkingwithkids.org/sex.html



 

Quoting:
 Maybe If the grandmother would have been a little more responsible, maybe the girl would still be alive.  
End Quote

I agree somewhat and just to tell you Polly Class (if you heard about her) was stolen from inside her bedroom infront of her friends.

Quoting:
There is a way for parents to help protect their children from these awful situations -

Education.

It's too late for the Runnions, but not for the rest of the parents, grandparents, guardians and children of the world.

An excellent video, which is used in many schools, is an excellent first step:

STRONG KIDS -- SAFE KIDS

(43 minutes)  

Kids, as well as parents, will learn about the dangers youngsters have to watch out for every day of their lives, including sexual molestation and abduction.

A few lessons included:

Children should know about sex, sexuality and the facts of life by the time they enter elementary school/the age of 5 and know the correct names for private parts, how to protect themselves from sexual offenders, strangers, how to not be tricked with stories like the one in Samantha Runnion's case in which the stranger used the "Puppy" trick. Children and parents alike are shown how to communicate effectively about these very sensitive issues in an intelligent and fun way. Cartoon characters like Scooby Doo, Pac-Man, The Smurfs, The Flintstones help children feel comfortable and connected.

My opinion:

Some may be concerned about children growing-up too fast or losing their innocence because of the possible "adultization" of educational programs which are meant to do just that - educate.

Many parents would have given-up their children's innocence 100 times over had they realized that knowledge was best for their children's safety and well-being. Many parents would have given-up their children's innocence 100 times over had they realized that knowledge could have saved their children from dangerous situations and in some cases their children's lives.
End Quote

What does sex have to do with kidnapping? I believe if the child is kidnapped and is rapped or had sexual things done to him/her they wouldn't know anyways because the s.o.b's are so gross they will murder them after.

Quoting:


What does sex have to do with kidnapping? I believe if the child is kidnapped and is rapped or had sexual things done to him/her they wouldn't know anyways because the s.o.b's are so gross they will murder them after.
End Quote

Ok. Using the aforementioned video "STRONG KIDS -- SAFE KIDS" -

This video teaches what children should be aware of, look for, notice, avoid, do in potentially dangerous situations such as kidnaping. Sex Safety is one of the topics included.

For example:

When a stranger says "Please help me find my puppy."

The child learns to say No!, run away without looking back (looking back slows one down) and tell someone the child trusts like a parent or teacher immediately.

The lesson goes into why these situations arise and exactly why to avoid them.


Edited to add: Sex Safety is an extremely important lesson and has everything to do with kidnapping, for unless the kidnapping is for reasons of ransom (in which case age is of little significance), the reason most children are kidnapped are for the reason of sex crimes.

Quoting:



Ok. Using the aforementioned video "STRONG KIDS -- SAFE KIDS" -

This video teaches what children should be aware of, look for, notice, avoid, do in potentially dangerous situations such as kidnaping. Sex Safety is one of the topics included.

For example:

When a stranger says "Please help me find my puppy."

The child learns to say No!, run away without looking back (looking back slows one down) and tell someone the child trusts like a parent or teacher immediately.

The lesson goes into why these situations arise and exactly why to avoid them.


Edited to add: Sex Safety is an extremely important lesson and has everything to do with kidnapping, for unless the kidnapping is for reasons of ransom (in which case age is of little significance), the reason most children are kidnapped are for the reason of sex crimes.
End Quote

okay.....they always don't use lines though sometimes they just grab them.

Quoting:


okay.....they always don't use lines though sometimes they just grab them.
End Quote

And thus, the video also teaches important safety tips such as to keep distance from strangers, travel in groups, if a stranger approaches, run away, never extend your arm out, etc., etc.

Quoting:


This is the thing that is so sad about the growing dangers of the society we live in. When I was five years old, my parents thought nothing of letting me walk five houses up the street to play with friends. When I was 7, I spent hours with the same friends (ages 5 and 10) with no adult in the house, (their parents worked) and my parents thought nothing of that either...

Today, a child cannot even play safely in their own yard. I would not be too hard on the grandmother, as she was raised in a gentler time, and it is hard to get into the mindset that such things can happen when you were not raised that way. I know, you can watch the news, but the reality of that often does not offset what you remember from your own childhood... :'(
End Quote

I definitely agree with what you're saying here, Zella.

Quoting:


I definitely agree with what you're saying here, Zella.
End Quote

Thanks, Karen. I am sooo glad I don't have children. I am still living in the 70s and I would probably be a terribly underprotective mother... :(