Amber Alerts

[proud2BlibKansan]

Your thoughts? Are there too many? Not enough? Do they help?

[ewagner]

1. I think they help

locally.....I'm not sure about national Amber alerts...

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. And I would criticize the local ones first

We had one (again) today. They are happening more and more frequently. Here is what I posted on the Kansas board:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=153x2088

I do not know the details of this story yet so I may eat my words. But this amber alert was flashing across the TV screen this morning, on the sign over the highway on my way to work and now I see it on DU. I work with kids and have nothing but hatred for people who abduct them but 99 times out of 100, these are parental abductions and the result of a messy divorce. Why do the rest of us (especially those of us who work to keep our marriages stable and our families intact) need to be dragged in to these custody disputes? I work in a school and you all would be amazed at how many divorced parents get restraining orders against the non custodial parent and how often that parent comes to school just to see their child. Then we have to call the police, lock down the school and calm scared kids. And it's all because of a messy divorce.

My fear is that when we do have stranger abductions, we will be so desensitized to these constant amber alerts that no one will pay attention. What good is this system then?

I also am furious at the hysteria over gay marriage - especially here in Kansas, while we ignore the far greater problem of divorce and its effects on kids. Where are our priorities?

[wakeme2008]

2. They help but most ppl do not understand them

They need more than just a missing child. The need a car to do an Amber Alert....

[wuushew]

3. A clever ploy by Joe Biden

to limit the recreational enjoyment of illicit drugs via attachment of the Rave Act.

[Enraged_Ape]

4. I remember at least one locally where the abductors freaked...

when they heard about themselves on the radio and they let the little girl go, then they skedaddled. The cops found the girl and she was unharmed.

So I'd say, yeah, they help. If this was the only kid these alerts ever helped (and I doubt it), they are worth it.