There are a couple of news stories that have me a little hot under the collar. To see such blatant disregard for a young child’s life gets my blood boiling.

In the first story from Florida, not one but two woman cared more for a case of beer than a sixteen month old little girl. A police officer pulled the car over and found the driver had a case of beer seat belted in for safety, but the sixteen month old in the backseat with her mother was not in a car seat, seat belt or anything else.

In addition, the driver was charged with being under the influence as well as being in possession of drug paraphernalia.

What is a child’s life worth these days? What does a case of beer cost? $15 or $20? It’s been quite a while since I bought a case of beer so I’m not sure, but apparently a child’s life is worth less than $20.

The second story, out of Indianapolis is even more heinous. A mother was found passed out on top of her two year old child, who died as a result. It is believed that she was under the influence of some substance at the time of her little boy’s death. She is being charged with felony neglect.

In case that isn’t bad enough, this woman had already been convicted of child neglect in July of 2007, just over six months ago, and had this child removed from her custody. Why was this child allowed anywhere near her? Why was she allowed to have him in a motel?

The mother’s boyfriend discovered her passed out on top of her child at 1:00 A.M. She had four alcohol related charges in December and January. She is facing potential homicide charges because of this incident, and rightfully so. Social services is not commenting on any of this.

What do we have to do to protect children from obviously abusive and neglectful parents? I know plenty of people who would happily provide these children with safe and loving homes. Why are they allowed to remain the custody of abusers?

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