|  Taegen's Law
Children are innocent, and rely upon their parents and family for protection. A child is dependent, trusting, and above all, vulnerable to harm at the hands of abusers. Conversely, a police officer chooses his or her profession, receives full combat and self-defense training, and is equipped with a full arsenal of skills and self-defense tools. It is typical for an officer of the law to wear a bulletproof vest and carry a combination of weapons including a baton, taser device and a revolver. In many states, murdering a police officer incurs a sentence of life in prison or else the death penalty. However, those who kill children face a less severe punishment, sometimes receiving a sentence of under 30 years. If we look at a child and a police officer side by side, aren't they equally entitled to full protection under the law and equal justice? If murdered, don't both of their killers deserve the same hard sentencing and punishment? Don't the families of both a law enforcement official and a precious child deserve the peace of mind that justice can bring?
When it comes to the penalties levied against abusers and murderers, our children deserve the same respect and protection that is afforded to officers of the law and their families.
The time has come for society to band together under the following statement:
Our children are valuable and precious;
Our children are deserving of ultimate love, respect and protection;
Our children should be regarded as highly as our society's protectors -- the police officers and other law enforcement officials.
And finally, our children need us to watch out for them, stand by them, and -- in cases of abuse and murder -- stand for them.
We need this statement to be heard so that our children are able to live long and healthy lives. Our children hold the keys to our FUTURE.
For these reasons, we are creating TAEGEN'S LAW. This law has been designed in memory of Taegen Elise McKinney, 17 months old, who was murdered in April of 2007. Taegen was stomped to death by her babysitter's boyfriend in front of her four year-old brother, Conner. This law is being proposed in memory of Taegen and the many, many other children who have experienced abuse and death at the hands of their abusers. This law is also written for the babies and children who ultimately survive their attacks, but live the rest of their lives wounded physically, mentally and emotionally. We hope this law will deter people from making the choice to abuse or kill any of our nation's children.
In the name of the littlest members of our society, we the undersigned feel that our legal system owes these children and their families greater protection and retribution under the law. Children like Taegen McKinney and so many others depend upon our citizens, our communities, and our justice system for the very same things -- so we feel that the following penalties should be put into place for ALL children, across all states, nationwide.
TAEGEN'S LAW
Child abuse resulting in death/ or murder of a child:
**1st degree: Capital Punishment- availability depending on state laws,
or Life without possibility of parole.
**2nd degree: Life in prison, no parole until after the age of 65 years.
**3rd degree: 30 years, no parole.
**4th degree: 30 years, parole available after 15 years served.
Child abuse:
**1st degree: 45 years, no parole.
**2nd degree: 35 years, parole available after 20 years served.
**3rd degree: 20 years, parole available after 15 years served.
**4th degree: 10 years.
** IF SOMEONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 CHOOSES TO TAKE THE LIFE OF A CHILD, AND /OR HINDERS/OFFERS ASSISTANCE IN A MALICIOUS MANNER, THAT PERSON, UNDER TAEGEN'S LAW, CAN BE CHARGED AS AN ADULT.
**ALL CHILD ABUSERS MUST BE REGISTERED AT TIME OF CONVICTION IN A NATIONAL DATABASE, SO THAT PARENTS AND GUARDIANS HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, NEIGHBORS OR ANY OTHER PERSON IN PROXIMITY TO THEIR CHILDREN.
**ALL PERSONS CONVICTED OF A SEX ACT AGAINST A CHILD WILL BE LISTED IN A NATIONAL DATABASE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL.
**UNDER TAEGEN'S LAW, A PERSON WHO IS AWARE OF ABUSE, OR A CHILD'S DEATH DUE TO ABUSE, AND DOES NOT REPORT IT OR CALL FOR ASSISTANCE, IS ALSO GUILTY OF THE CRIME, AND CAN BE CHARGED THE SAME AS THE PRIMARY ABUSER.
* Child abuse is to include: physical, sexual, mental and emotional abuse; it is also to include SBS (SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME) or any other harmful treatment that will prevent a child from living a "normal" and healthy life.
* A child is a person of age between birth and 16 years old.
* Life is forever - or until a person dies of natural causes.
PLEASE JOIN US IN THE FIGHT FOR OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES
www.ipetitions.com/petition/TAEGEN
Related Resource: adult living
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