Norm Sauceman Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 5-14-2008 Front page tells of a 7 year old boy killed in a "one-car" crash here (Cookeville, TN) yesterday. He was ejected and his sister, who survived, was partially ejected. Neither the parent nor any of the children were wearing seat belts. Although I feel sorry for her and all, I do not feel sorry enough that she should not be brought up on charges of vehicular homicide and child endangerment and cited for what was her responsibility. Why were those children not in safety belts? It just burns me up every time I read of a child being hurt or killed in an auto crash and has no type of safety restraint at all. In my opinion, when a child is in your care and custody, especially while you are driving, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THAT CHILD AT ALL COSTS!! What is your opinion? Agree?? Disagree?? Why?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 agree......isn't it the law to be buckled up....... "CLICK IT OR TICKET" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Agree?? - because, "IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THAT CHILD AT ALL COSTS!!" Disagree?? - because, Losing a child because of your own stupidness, would be punishment enough, for most, but sadly, not for all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 I agree that minors, who presumably should not be making major decisions themselves concerning their own wellbeing, should be required to wear appropriate restraints like seatbelts or be in a car seat, at all times. I also believe that adults should not be required by law to wear a seatbelt. If an adult chooses to take those types of risks with their own lives, so be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 i agree that the kids should have been buckled up...but i disagree that any kind of charges should be brought up. Unless drugs or alcohol lead to the crash of course. Accidents happen unfortunately.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 they wouldnt of been ejected if they had been properly buckled...kids that young have no idea of the consequenses of not buckling up, their parents made it for them and they know the consequenses so yes i think they should be held accountable.....yes it a horrible lesson learned, but one that could of been avoided. But i do believe it should be up to an adult if they want to buckle themselves up....but it should be the law for kids under 17-18..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAhunter14 Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Accidents happen unfortunately.... yes accidents happen but this one could have been easily avoided i agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Make the parents watch the autopsy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted May 14, 2008 Report Share Posted May 14, 2008 Agree?? - because, "IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THAT CHILD AT ALL COSTS!!" Disagree?? - because, Losing a child because of your own stupidness, would be punishment enough, for most, but sadly, not for all. Well said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 Agree. Make the parents watch the autopsy. .............and agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 The parent broke the law and her child died because of it. Throw the book at her. If my 3 year old gets out of his seat I stop the car and put him back in tighter. If he gets out again, I wear his hind end out and put him back in. That happens about once every two months. The safety of your children is more important their happiness while driving in a car. I believe that our kids will live by our example. My seatbelt goes on before I put the car in gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJR Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 I agree with this! The parents should be held responsible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 It's sad...you'd think after all the other stories parents hear of accidents and the victims not wearing belts, they'd be sure to buckle their kids up and themselves.... Human Error is the number 1 cause of most accidents, car related or not. It's a shame....probably preventable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 yep. hold the stupid parents responsible. i disagree with buckee, they have not been punished enough. their children have. i'd throw the book at them. it's so simple to buckle the kids in, and keep them safe. i do it all the time. no problem. kids RELY on their parents to think of these things. i know the parents feel bad, but the kids are dead. they can no longer enjoy all the things their parents do. sorry, i'm just a hardliner on keeping the kids, especially my grandkids, safe. i actually bought a suv in 2005 simply because it was the safest vehicle (per consumer reports) on the highway for passengers, and had the only kid seat not requiring a full baby carrier. and each kid has his own 2 airbags. 11 airbags total. kids come first. this parent failed, and i'm sure not for the 1st time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 I think I need to hear more details before I pass judgment on this one. Many times I have seen kids that age put their seat belts on only to remove them later and the parent never noticed. And I can see this happening very easily in a vehicle like a mini-van where the parent can't really see the kids as easily as they would in a car. If that were the case, the death of that child alone is punishment enough. Very sad......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beagleboy Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 I agree. It's our responsibility as parents to protect our children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 i disagree, of course the child have should have been in a seatbelt,, but things happen,,things happen and nobody knows why they happen they just happen,, its very sad... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 I think I need to hear more details before I pass judgment on this one. Many times I have seen kids that age put their seat belts on only to remove them later and the parent never noticed. And I can see this happening very easily in a vehicle like a mini-van where the parent can't really see the kids as easily as they would in a car. If that were the case, the death of that child alone is punishment enough. Very sad......... Yep, think with having kids and knowing that my kids have taken their belts off while I was driving, I have to give benefit of the doubt here and not be quick to assume or pass judgement. I have had to pull over on a few occasions for my 2 year old taking the belt off on her carseat. Have tried fixing it driving down the road before too, and that can be pretty dangerous too. Sad story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 I think I need to hear more details before I pass judgment on this one. Many times I have seen kids that age put their seat belts on only to remove them later and the parent never noticed. And I can see this happening very easily in a vehicle like a mini-van where the parent can't really see the kids as easily as they would in a car. If that were the case, the death of that child alone is punishment enough. Very sad......... Good point Andrea. I have had my son do this a couple times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 Completely disagree. It's not up the Government to punish people for errors or lack of judgement in parenting. Once you open those floodgates, there's no stopping the violations to personal rights/privacy that will come out of it. Then you're heading for Orwell-type situations. I'm sure the majority of you will disagree...but imagine how you'll feel once your freedoms are invaded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted May 15, 2008 Report Share Posted May 15, 2008 ....I agree with Muggs, and Buckee, and Rangerclay..... -and I strongly believe in mandatory child seat and seatbelt safety education...including graphic films..for every parent before they even leave the hospital after delivery...(or, something like that...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 I think I need to hear more details before I pass judgment on this one. Many times I have seen kids that age put their seat belts on only to remove them later and the parent never noticed. And I can see this happening very easily in a vehicle like a mini-van where the parent can't really see the kids as easily as they would in a car. If that were the case, the death of that child alone is punishment enough. Very sad......... ALL THREE WERE NOT WEARING SEAT BELTS...what do you need more details on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 SO, what freedom does the 7 year-old enjoy now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Freedom?? Completely disagree. It's not up the Government to punish people for errors or lack of judgement in parenting. Once you open those floodgates, there's no stopping the violations to personal rights/privacy that will come out of it. Then you're heading for Orwell-type situations. I'm sure the majority of you will disagree...but imagine how you'll feel once your freedoms are invaded. So, the expressed freedom of the mother to not make her children wear seat belts led to the death of one child and the near death of another. Her expressed freedom CAUSED the death of a child so now since the child is dead and someone caused it because it was their freedom choice not to restrain her or her children and no one is responsible... Thinking like this is why we HAVE laws in the first place. Folks seem to put in their own definition of freedom and do not care if it infringes on another person or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Sauceman Posted May 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2008 Huh? i disagree, of course the child have should have been in a seatbelt,, but things happen,,things happen and nobody knows why they happen they just happen,, its very sad... SO, going completely off the deep end and far to the way far side...if it were a drunk driver who had her child in the truck then..things just happen..the accident is enough punishment. SO, if it were a parent who was abusive and really had no regard for the child and wanted to cash in on a life insurance policy and had this accident happen exactly they way it did then you would just chalk it up to...it happens? What if it were your child and it was a neighbor driving?? Stuff happens?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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