Editorial: "Caylee's Law" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: "Caylee's Law"

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Those of us with children have all had moments of panic when we could not locate our kids only to find them a short time later at a friend's house.  What a relief that was.

It's was unimaginable watching the Casey Anthony trial where a mother waited 30 days before reporting her child missing or in this case dead – 30 days.

Bryan Taylor, State Senator from Prattville, AL, wants to prevent the same occurrence in Alabama from happening with proposed legislation dubbed "Caylee's Law." This bill was filed initially in July by State Representative Juandalynn Givan and would make it illegal for a parent or guardian to not report a child missing or worse yet – that a child  has died. 

For a number of reasons this is one of those common sense let's get it into law as soon as possible recommendations.  For one - consider the time and resources that will be saved on law enforcement investigation as the number of cases chasing empty leads would be reduced.  Not to mention the emotional toll on family and friends hoping a child is alive when in fact they are gone and somebody knows it.

We would support taking this legislation a step further and opening it up to all violent crimes.  If you report false information or withhold information in connection with a violent crime it's no longer a misdemeanor but now a felony.

I was once told if you "mess up – fess up" - this proposed law which we support should increase the odds of this happening.

We appreciate your feedback.

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