I know this isn’t a current events blog, so I promise I’ll get back to the dogs and computers after just one more local news post. I saw this on the news tonight:
Baby Found In Garbage Can On Southwest Side
I am so glad this baby will probably be fine, but there were already some cases earlier this year where abandoned babies were not so lucky. With all 50 states and the District of Columbia now having some form of a Safe Haven Law, which allows for the anonymous safe relinquishment of infants to designated Safe Haven providers, usually including hospitals, fire stations, and police stations, it is hard for me to believe that anyone would choose to leave even an unwanted baby in a garbage can.
We have had a Safe Haven Law in Illinois since 2001 and it was made permanent in 2005. The Save Abandoned Babies Foundation is the local organization that spearheaded the drafting and passage of Illinois’ law and all of the information about our law is on their website. Still, there are people who are either unaware of the law or do not believe it is truly without consequences. I am not an A-list and maybe not even a Z-list blog, but if this post’s links can make a few more people aware of Safe Haven Laws in Illinois or elsewhere, I’m good with that.
(NaBloPoMo | August ’09: 8 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 196 of 274)