Las Vegas Sun

November 25, 2009

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Editorial: Bill offers hope for unwanted newborns

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001 | 8:54 a.m.

It is painful to hear about mothers dumping their newborn children in trash bins. It is encouraging then that Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, has introduced legislation that would give mothers an option that hopefully could prevent such tragedies, and even ultimately lead to adoptions. The "baby safe haven" bill would allow mothers to leave a baby, who is less than a month old, with either a hospital, medical center, fire station or police station. The mother also would be immune from prosecution for child abuse or neglect -- as long as the baby hadn't been harmed -- and the baby would be placed in protective custody.

This obviously isn't ideal, but there has to be an alternative to the current situation. The Junior League of Las Vegas, which backs the bill, notes that 12 newborns were abandoned in Las Vegas last year. The Legislature should do what it can to give these deserving children a chance at life.

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