Barbara Bradley, president and CEO of Action for Children, suggests some ways to make North Carolina a better state for children. This one makes me scratch my head.
Make it a felony offense to endanger a child?s life
A parent or other caretaker endangers a child?s life when he or she places the child in serious jeopardy, even if the act does not result in the death of the child. Forty-four other states have enacted child endangerment felony laws, and the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force has recommended that policymakers fill this gap in North Carolina?s law.
Does Ms. Bradley suggest that parents who don’t sign their children up for Medicaid or NC Health Choice should be considered felons for not providing health insurance to their children? What about the woman in Maryland whose son died because of a toothache? It could be cheaper for the state to criminalize inaction by parents than to expand outreach for welfare programs, but it sure does not seem to be compassionate. I hope she can clarify this apparent misunderstanding.
