NEWS: Judge Orders Couple to Stop Breeding

I don't really see why they're outraged. Are they outraged when people go to jail and aren't allowed to go any place they want, or do anything they like? Or perhaps when people are on probation and have heavy restrictions placed on their lives?These are criminals, and criminals lose many of the privileges of being a citizen. Citizens have the *right* to bear arms, however most criminals or former criminals do not, is this so different? They've shown that they lack the judgement to use those weapons correctly, just like this couple has shown that they lack the judgement to raise or even birth children correctly.

I doubt that anyone here can convince me that there is one good reason for this couple to breed. It's a good decision, and I hope it stays upheld, and is replicated elsewhere. The world does not need more babies concieved in drug addiction, sometimes it can turn out ok, but a lot of times it doesn't, and it's ugly and horrible.

[Edited on May 10, 2004 6:57AM]

crispy creamy christ.....geez. ok. so they go to jail. forever. kids get help. get adopted. all is happy. that's what i say.. unfortunately putting mommy and daddy in jail then has the state paying for the kids, PLUS the parents in jail.....so yeah....ouch.
stupid people should not be allowed to procreate. that's my decision.

they should be jailed it's the only way to stop them (sick ass bastards).

to me its like applying a bandaid to an amputation, the problem is much bigger than this one case. Untill someone starts looking for a solution to uncared for children raised by junkies and the ignorant, it will only be cases like this that shine a light on the problem. Everyone seems emotional, either for or against, but hell it will fade from all your eyes while kids are still being brought into this world without the need resorses to develope into adults. Hell the only solution i can even come up with is a joke unto itself------birthcontrol in all water you must apply for the antidote and prove you can take care of and have the resorses for children, i.e. a kids lisence

im going off, but i think im justified

Why is the ACLU outraged? Because if the ACLU doesn't scare the world everytime some jackass gets what's coming to him they wouldn't have a job. Self-preservation by any means is not a trait exclusive to politicians.

I think the parents should be shot. Not really. But they need to have their kids taken away forever. How does a 1-year-old ingest cocaine? Seriously.

Her body, her choice.

i've always said that stupid people shouldn't be allowed to procreate ... this couple qualifies as stupid. not to be a terse bitch or anything.

what does that have to do with anything at all?

I understand the "right" to have childern, but I also have the "right" to go to McDonalds and have 30 Bid Macs. That doesn't make it a good idea, especially when you don't have the money to pay for them cause you snorted it all up your nose.

One of the rallying points of the Pro-Choice movement is that the only person who should make decisions regarding pregnancy is the women who is (or will be) pregnant.

Here, we have a judge who is telling a women that she isn’t allowed to have children, it’s third party deciding what to do with someone else’s womb.
It seemed appropriate. That’s why I brought it up.


But I think this ruling is messed up on other levels too.

"This court believes the constitutional right to have children is overcome when society must bear the financial and everyday burden of care."

So, it’s ok to violate human rights because upholding them costs money?
That doesn’t seem right.

Oh, and there is this whole eugenics angle too.
“Some people shouldn’t breed.”
I think I’ve heard that one before.

Why didn’t Judge O'Connor just but them in jail?
It’s legal, it would keep them from having more kids, and it would punish them for their past child abuse.
Doesn’t that seem at least a little more reasonable?

one down, MILLIONS to go

Goddamn, girl, you always make me smile. I couldn't agree more.

So strangely enough this thread hit home today. First let me give you a little background on where and how I have formed some of my opinions in regard to parental rights, the family law courts, etc. During and for a while after Law School I clerked for a family court Judge in Minnesota. During that time I saw and agreed with my judge's frustration with our current system. Time and time again we saw the same parents with the same issues in court. Many of these people just got worse every time we saw them. But the state's position and the position of most states is that very effort should be made to return children to the family whenever possible. In my opinion the state goes to far in their attempt to reunite parents and children. As bad a parent as the state is, it is better than most drug addicts and the sad fact is most of the users go back to using again once they have their children back.
More recently I have done a lot of Pro Bono child advocacy work. I represent the child only and my job is to represent their interests whether it be against the state, the parents or both. It is the only thing in the practice of Law that I have found to be truly rewarding. It is also the hardest, most emotionally draining work I do. I am contstantly frustrated by the complacency of child protection, the state and judges. Again and again I watch children who as of yet have not been destroyed by their parents abuse or neglect returned to parents who care only about where to get their next high.
More recently a personal issue has gotten me thinking about things. A crack addict that I know well, too well, gave birth about a week ago. She was probably high at the time and when the child was born she didn't think it was breathing. Did she call an amulance? Try to get to a hospital? No. She stuffed the baby in a garbage bag and threw it in a dumpster. A week later, presumably after coming down from her drug binge, she showed up around people who knew she had been pregnant. After being questioned by them she told them what happened and eventually the police. The saddest part of the story? As of right now none of us know for sure if the baby was really dead. There is a chance that with medical attention it might have started breathing. The hospital was 4 blocks away.
I am pro choice. I have some qualms about the government deciding who can or cannot have children. But this country is neglecting its children. Something has to change. Maybe a judge making a ruling like this, despite its questionable constitutionality, will shake the system out of its complacency. Something has to.