This one is about Caylee's Law.

     I read in the news this morning that "Caylee's Law" is headed to our Governor's desk.  I am certain that Mr. McCrory will approve it.  It passed with a unanimous vote in the state house yesterday (Tuesday, 7MAY2013).  I'd like to talk for a second about the law.

     "Caylee's Law" is named for the slain daughter of an Orlando, Florida resident named Casey Anthony.  If none of my readers are familiar with this topic, go Google it real quick, I will wait right here.  Up to speed now?   Great, back to the law.  It makes not reporting your child missing after they have been gone 24 hours a crime.  It also makes not reporting a child in danger a crime, though that is only a misdemeanor offense (and not a felony) apparently.  The law increases the penalty for people who knowingly make false reports about such crimes, too.  Lastly, it makes it illegal to not report the death of a child.

     No wonder it passed unanimously, right?

     I'm sure everyone who is reading this, particularly those who were media-bombed daily (regarding this tragedy and Casey Anthony's train wreck of a life) during her trial, are glad to hear these tidings.  In  fact, I'm sure just about everyone is thrilled that this law was finally passed.  It says we are a just nation with our hearts and minds focused on our children.  Our politicians can rest well tonight knowing that they did a great job, creating some much-needed legislation.  At least, everyone I have spoken to thinks that.

     Well, I don't.

     I think what it really says about us as a nation isn't fit to be spoken out loud, much less written down.  What kind of nation have we become, what does it say about us as a people, when we have to make laws that twist our own arms in order to get crimes against our children--particularly abductions and murders--reported?

     This is not the America of my youth.  I know and accept that.  Everything changes over time.  This change, however, I do most emphatically not accept.  It is so terrible and tragic a failure that I will not deride it with my usual sarcasm or ranting.  Instead, I will just put it into words today's desensitized and media-addicted internet culture can understand:

     Epic fail.

     On all of us.