Solution In Search Of A Problem

Predictably, legislators are trying to pass a law designed to prevent the unique circumstances of the Casey Anthony case from happening again.

[Politicians have] sponsored an "offenses by caregivers" bill that would make it a felony for a parent, guardian or other adult in charge of a child 12 years old or younger to not report the child's disappearance within 48 hours. The bill also would apply to a caregiver who knowingly fails to report a child's death or the location of a child's body within two hours of learning such information.

Anyone who lies to police or misleads them about a child they know to be in danger also would be guilty of a felony. Anthony, acquitted Tuesday of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, was given four years in jail Thursday on four misdemeanor counts of lying to investigators.

Is there a problem with people not reporting the death or disappearance of kids?  Will those who are a little late, for whatever reason, be tossed in the pen?  What about a kid dying and you're grieving so much you don't report it for three hours--how much jail time should you do for that?

As for lying to the police, that's already a crime, and a fairly serious one.  I don't see how these kinds of lies need to be treated specially.  And how does a court determine if you knew a kid was in danger?  Hate to have a jury decide that one.

No doubt Caylee's Laws will be passed throughout the nation, and demagogues will argue that anyone who opposes them doesn't care about children.