I was reading that a couple of months ago the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the child-rape death penalty in Louisiana. The case that overturned the law was that of Patrick Kennedy. The 43-year-old was sentenced to death for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter. He is one of two people in the U.S., both in Louisiana, condemned to death for a rape not accompanied by a killing.

The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, a victim-advocacy group, shared the concern voiced by the court that the death penalty in such cases could endanger rather than protect children. They uphold that “making the punishment for child rape and murder equivalent, a state that punishes child rape by death may remove a strong incentive for the rapist not to kill the victim.”

The court said Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and that “The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child.”

Forty-five states ban the death penalty for any kind of rape, and the other five states allow it for child rapists. Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas allow executions in such cases if the defendant had previously been convicted of raping a child.

I am 100% pro-life, and an opponent of the death penalty, but I always thought that having enforced the death penalty for child rape would discourage individuals from committing this type of crimes. That knowing the consequence of their actions would be death row would scare them away from even trying to commit these hideous crimes against children. So hearing the court’s opinion that imposing the death penalty on a child rapist will actually encourage them to kill the victim was something I never pondered.

Maybe the U.S. Supreme Court is right or maybe they are not. Which is best to help keep our children safe from sexual predators? To allow the death penalty for child rapists or not to allow it? and what punishment is proportional to the rape of a child? Just let the parents of the victim answer that one.

God forbids, this happens to your family, what kind of punishment would you like be enforced on the perpetrator?

Want to know how many registered sex offenders live near you? In your neighborhood, Children schools, Parks, and within a 20 to 30 miles ratios? On this Website, go to Helpful Resources on the far right, and click on SEXUAL PREDATOR SEARCH.

I was reading an article this week published by a self-defense educator, and I learned some things I never thought could make me and/or my children an easy target to a predator.

We have all seen those eye catching signs/stickers on the back of vehicles that read: “My child is a Gymnast,” “Baby on Board,” My child is an Honor Student at ____________,” and even signs placed in yards, home windows and mailboxes espousing: “Home of a Cheerleader,” “Home of a Dancing Doll,” “Jr. High Softball Star,” “Pa Paw and Me Maw’s Place,” etc. According to a self-defense educator and this makes a lot of sense, if you are a proud owner of any of these signs, they could attract predators and you and/or your family can become an easy target.

“A predator can drive through a neighborhood and know from these signs exactly where the prettiest, spunkiest cheerleader lives. Predators can read “Pa Paw and Me Maws Place,” and know that house has a frail and elderly couple living inside that would most likely be very easy to rob. Predators can see a car with “Baby on Board” and know that will be the easiest victim yet, for what mother would not give or do anything to try to keep her baby out of harm’s way? These signs make it so easy for perpetrators to find their next victim.

“And even more disturbing are the cheer and sports signs that clearly spell out the child’s name in plain view. How easy is that for a would-be perpetrator? Children should never walk around with names printed on shirts and backpacks. In a child’s mind, a person who knows their name is no longer a stranger.”

“The danger lies not just with our children however, but also with adults. Did you know that perpetrators go to the mall and carouse the parking lot looking for cars with stuffed animals in the back window and beads hanging from the rear view mirror? They look for cars that obviously belong to young females and then they wait for them to return to their cars so they can attack or abduct them.” Predators see these as helpful and direct clues leading them to their next victim.”

Don’t increase your chances of being a predator’s next victim. Remove all signs, sticker, and unnecessary items from your vehicles and properties. If this helps keep a predator away from you and your family, it’s well worth the sacrifice.

Want to know how many registered sex offenders live near you? In your neighborhood, Children school, Parks, and within a 20 to 30 miles ratios? On this Website, go to Helpful Resources on the far right, and click on SEXUAL PREDATOR SEARCH.

Some people say that this could happen to anyone. But c’mon, are we really that forgetful? How can we forget our children in the back of our cars? I don’t know, maybe I’m a paranoid parent, but I have to know minute by minute what my kids are doing and where they are. They’re constantly on my mind. Maybe it helps that I’m stay-at-home mom and know that if my children are not with me they are not with any one else, but still, being a working parent or not, I just can’t comprehend how can anyone forget their child in the back of their car for hours.

Some may argue that it’s easy to forget a sleeping baby in the back of a car. And I say what? How can anyone forget about their baby? You know that they are going to need milk soon or later, so they are always on your mind, or they should be anyway. I don’t know, maybe some of us are suffering of an epidemic early case of Alzheimer’s disease. Excuse my bluntness, but just the thought of a baby or child dying in the back of a car just angers me. I already made the decision that this is not going to happen to me. I know that I have two kids, and I’ve made the decision that no matter where I go, and no matter what short of time I’m going to spend there, I will never leave my children in my car. I will always bring them along with me. So when I turn that key to off, and the engine of my car stops running, the first things I do is get out of my car and go to the back and open the door to get my children. I have made this a habit–even when my children are home with my husband and I go somewhere, I get out of my car and then go to open the back door to check if my children are there.

Let’s be proactive, don’t be of the mindset that this could happen to anyone and just hope that it doesn’t happen to you. Let’s take the necessary measures to ensure that this horrible thing doesn’t happen to our children. If you consider yourself a forgetful person, or if you’re going trough a busy or difficult time in your life which causes you to forget things, please make sure you come up with a plan that will work for you, to remember your baby or child in the back of your car.

This is what could happen to child left unattended in a vehicle:

• Heatstroke occurs when a person’s temperature exceeds 104 degrees F and their thermo regulatory mechanism is overwhelmed
  - Symptoms include : dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, hallucinations
• A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is considered lethal as cells are damaged and internal organs shut down
• Children’s thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult’s and their bodies warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

• NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE. NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE!
• Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don’t overlook sleeping babies.
• Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat and when the child is put in the seat place the animal in the front with the driver.
• Or place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
• Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.
• Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

STATISTICS

• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2008: 15
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 2007: 35
• Total number of U.S. hyperthermia deaths of children left in cars, 1998-2008: 376
• Average number of U.S. child hyperthermia fatalities per year since 1998: 36
  

An examination of media reports about the 361 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for a ten year period (1998 through 2007) shows the following circumstances:

· Circumstances

· 51% - child “forgotten” by caregiver

· 30% - child playing in unattended vehicle

· 18% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult

· 1% - circumstances unknown

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For additional information on Hyperthermia visit: http://ggweather.com/heat


Those are my thoughts on Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Hot Vehicles, I would love to hear your thoughts and or concerns on this matter. Please feel free to leave a comment. Look forward in hearing your thoughts.