Is It Just Me, or Do These Things Happen More Often Than In The Past?

Totally off politics for the moment.

Is it me, or are stories about people killing their own children or abducting them more prevalent now than in the past? is it just that we live in a 24/7 media environment, and we are aware of these stories?

It breaks my heart every time I read one of the tragic examples of either metal illness or jsut plain evil and a child is the victim. Is there a general degradation of the meaning of life? Is society so immune because of issues like abortion that people simple don't consider how precious that a life is?

If you are a regular here you know something of my daughter. She is a developmentally delayed child, and isn't quite equal in an academic sense with her peers. We have struggled for years to find a cause and/or diagnosis, but despite some of the best attention from pediatric neurologists, we were told this past week that there is nothing physically wrong with her. (We are now on the hunt for experimental and research oriented programs to continue to pursue a diagnosis). Anyway, my daughter is my heart. I can't even begin to imagine day where I didn't hear her say "Daddy, I need to tell you something", which is her catch phrase for getting my undivided attention. That "something" might just be that she wants a refill on her drink, or it could be that her brother painted the dog purple. Regardless, despite the fact that sometimes I crave absolute silence, my life would end if that silence were permanent.

I do not understand why people hurt children, especially their own. Do me two favors - One, Seek the source of Amber Alerts in your city or state. Sign up for email updates, or cell phone notifications when one happens. It won't clog your email or phone, as the conditions for entering them are rather strict. But please, actively seek the information so that one day, headed home from work, you will see a car that you recognize from your email and a quick phone call will save a child's life.

Two, go to the FBI's list of sex offender registries found here and find out where the sex offenders live in your community. The truth is that many of them do not live where they say they live, or have moved without notifying the proper authorities. However, this is updated regularly, and you can find those that are at least claiming your area as home. You would be amazed how quickly the mind can recall a picture when there is a feeling of something not being quite right. As much time as you spend on the internet, this few minutes is worth every second.

In police work, something around 80% of crimes are solved because of information from an informant or concerned citizen call. This is one area where we could all help.