From the comments: Steve Gunn on society's responsibility to protect children

steve-gunn80.jpgSteve Gunn
You may have missed Steve Gunn's Dec. 9 column, "Tragedy reminds us we're all responsible for community's children." Here what some Chronicle readers had to say:

Commenter MARSXIV wants harsher punishments: 

Nice sentiments Gunn,but how about some new legislation demanding harsh penalties for the perpetrators,like where a child is involved the sentence needs to be 10x the adult sentence in the guide lines.Only when crazies are actually confronted with life in prison or death will they begin to have second thoughts.

Commenter momof5 agrees and wishes she could do more to help kids:

I have to agree with this story. I am a mother of five with number six being here any day. We home school our children due to not even being able to trust the schools where we put our children into anymore. I feel for these little ones and I wish that I could do more than just read on them and pray. Parents need to think about things before they act. I also agree that we do need to stick our faces in other peoples business when it comes to them doing wrong with children. I have to say that many people do not listen though. I have called cps and dhs on one parent because they were mistreating their 1 year old and also misusing the system but they did nothing. It is sad when you do try to get the right people involved then they do nothing 90% of the time. What happened when parents use to care about how their children were raised and what they were doing all the time? Why have children if you are not going to be a parent? Where are all the morals going? My prayers and thoughts are with these little ones.

Commenter krat52 urges all generations to get involved

I agree with everyone here who says this is a good article with a very important message. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF AND GUIDE THE CHILDREN. This includes Grandma and Grandpa, Aunties and Uncles and the neighbor lady down the street to teach our children right from wrong. Children should be taken to Church or Temple or Mosque to learn the teachings of the Lord. They need to learn to help folks who need a bit of a lift, and they need to learn to say thank you when someone gives them something or does something for them. Children have the right to be loved, to learn (get an education), to be given the right to be independent appropiate to their age, to be disciplined when they do wrong (so that they can learn the consequences of their actions), and most of all, to know that theybelong to a loving family and a supporting community.

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