Baby snatchers

So, I just discovered the story of Verna McClain, a nurse who (allegedly) murdered a woman and kidnapped her newborn baby. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. There are so many cases where a woman has miscarried and taken someone else's child. Sometimes, they even cut the baby out of a pregnant woman. It's probably one of the scariest crimes I can imagine.

And, interestingly enough, (if I'm not mistaken) the culprits often have some type of nursing career. This issue is one reason why I fully support mothers who choose homebirth, so eloquently discussed here, at Searching for Simplicity. When the nurses and doctors remove the newborn from your room, you have absolutely no say in what goes on. Often, the parents are so overwhelmed and excited to have their baby, they don't think about what the staff could be up to.

I always wondered why my grandmother was so neurotic about pregnant women and young mothers in my family, hardly allowing them to drive to the grocery store without an escort. While I think that paranoia stems from a health standpoint, it seems not to be a bad idea. While I usually don't support media-induced sensationalism or fear, it's hard not to hear this one. Actually, I'm pretty sure that there is a biological basis for taking babies, and it sometimes happens in ape communities when a mother loses her young.

With that said, I'm just putting this out there... Watch your back. Women are often so trusting. Don't be. Carry a gun with you at all times. I know it's such a pain to concealed carry under women's clothes, but it can mean life or death. I know we all want to be empowered, independent women, but it's not worth sacrificing the safety of your child. Therefore, it's a good idea to not go out alone, whenever possible. Take a neighbor or friend when you run your errands. Hey, they'll probably enjoy it. Most people would love to spend a few hours with your new baby!


P.S. The victim was a white woman. Bet you we won't see any protesters and outrage, making this out to be a hate crime. Just saying...

American materialism and our economy

Today I was going to talk about Americans living in "poverty," but I think our friends at Hack Wilson have said it best, so I won't reiterate.


On a side note, I just have to say...

My Kid Would Never Do That: Stranger Danger

As a criminologist, there is probably nothing more infuriating than constantly hearing the warnings of "Stranger Danger". Now, don't get me wrong- there have been plenty of cases where children were abducted or harmed by a stranger. However, this paranoia that's being placed on the conscience of every parent, is masking the real danger- creepy Uncle Jimmy.

Most of today's parents are so uber-involved as to step in on the child's bullying issues at school (that's a whole different post). However, many parents are missing the number one possible suspect that would harm their child- family and family friends. As a criminologist, it makes me cringe to think how many parents allow this activity to go on because they're clueless. Never trust people to be alone with your kids. ANYONE. Anytime you have to leave your child in another person's care, have a discussion with them about how it went and check them for any physical injury. This is an epidemic in our country.

Beware of your neighbors, friends, and family. It's hard to fathom, but be especially critical of anyone who is always eager to have alone time with your child. While some people genuinely do love children, you have to always be skeptical because the safety of your child is more important. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you have children with special needs (need the citation), there is about a 95% chance that they will be abused or neglected.

Parents, please, open your eyes. Even an adult that may be a lifelong friend cannot be trusted. I know, I know, we all want to believe our families and friends are inherently good and it would never happen to our child. However, there is no other adult- except yourself, that you can COMPLETELY trust that they will care for your child in the way that you want them to be cared for. Pay attention. Be paranoid.

Anyone with an interest in prepping should read this

This is an excellent essay on how to disappear. It's extremely thorough. I've actually thought about printing it and putting it in my bug out bag.

Vanishing Point: How to disappear in America without a trace