Sunday Republican

EDITORIAL

March 14, 2004 - Springfield, MA

Safe-haven legislation lifesaver for newborns

It will be two years in MA since Jennifer L. Paluseo placed her newborn son in
a black plastic trash bag after giving birth to the baby in the shower of her
dormitory at the University of Massachusetts.

Last month, Paluseo appeared in Hampshire County Superior Court to tearfully
own up to her crime. Her effort to plead guilty was nearly stalled when she
told Judge Judd. J. Carhart she did not remember carrying the nine-pound,
2-ounce baby - wrapped in a yellow towel and placed in two trash bags - to the
trash room down the hall from her dorm room.

Paluseo, who was a freshman when she gave birth to the baby, told Carhart she
remembered "bringing things from the bathroom and placing them in a bag."

After a half-hour of meetings among the lawyers, the judge and Paluseo, the
21-year-old returned to the stand where Carhart questioned her again.

"Do you remember what you put in that bag?" he asked. She answered: "A towel,
and what was in that towel was a baby."
The baby’s death was a tragedy - one that will no doubt haunt Paluseo for
many years to come. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy that happens all too often.

Since May 2000, 11 infants have been abandoned in Massachusetts. At least four
of those were in Western Massachusetts. Two died, including Paluseo’s baby.

We’re pleased that the Massachusetts House of Representatives is finally
poised to do something to encourage scared young mothers such as Paluseo to
consider another option. The House on Thursday voted 137-21 to give initial
approval to the so-called "safe haven" bill, which would allow parents to drop
their newborns at a hospital or other designated safe sites without fear of
prosecution.

The bill, which has been filed several times before, has yet to complete the
legislative process that would make it law. It must not fail this time.

The bill needs one more level of approval in the House before it can be sent to
the Senate, which must give its OK by July 31 in order for the bill to become
law.

Opponents argue that the bill would encourage child abandonment. We think
that’s a poor argument. Safe haven laws have been approved in 45 states.

The anniversary of Paluseo’s baby’s death is May 1. We hope the Legislature
will act before then.

Would you drive your car off a cliff if everybody else was?

Marley


"BabySafeHaven" <babysafehaven@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040316123541.28475.00001411@mb-m29.aol.com... Sunday Republican EDITORIAL March 14, 2004 - Springfield, MA Safe-haven legislation lifesaver for newborns It will be two years in MA since Jennifer L. Paluseo placed her newborn
son in a black plastic trash bag after giving birth to the baby in the shower of
her dormitory at the University of Massachusetts. Last month, Paluseo appeared in Hampshire County Superior Court to
tearfully own up to her crime. Her effort to plead guilty was nearly stalled when
she told Judge Judd. J. Carhart she did not remember carrying the nine-pound, 2-ounce baby - wrapped in a yellow towel and placed in two trash bags - to
the trash room down the hall from her dorm room. Paluseo, who was a freshman when she gave birth to the baby, told Carhart
she remembered "bringing things from the bathroom and placing them in a bag." After a half-hour of meetings among the lawyers, the judge and Paluseo,
the 21-year-old returned to the stand where Carhart questioned her again. "Do you remember what you put in that bag?" he asked. She answered: "A
towel, and what was in that towel was a baby." The baby's death was a tragedy - one that will no doubt haunt Paluseo for many years to come. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy that happens all too
often. Since May 2000, 11 infants have been abandoned in Massachusetts. At least
four of those were in Western Massachusetts. Two died, including Paluseo's
baby. We're pleased that the Massachusetts House of Representatives is finally poised to do something to encourage scared young mothers such as Paluseo
to consider another option. The House on Thursday voted 137-21 to give
initial approval to the so-called "safe haven" bill, which would allow parents to
drop their newborns at a hospital or other designated safe sites without fear
of prosecution. The bill, which has been filed several times before, has yet to complete
the legislative process that would make it law. It must not fail this time. The bill needs one more level of approval in the House before it can be
sent to the Senate, which must give its OK by July 31 in order for the bill to
become law. Opponents argue that the bill would encourage child abandonment. We think that's a poor argument. Safe haven laws have been approved in 45 states. The anniversary of Paluseo's baby's death is May 1. We hope the
Legislature will act before then.

<<<Would you drive your car off a cliff if everybody else was?

Marley>>>

Are you kidding me? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already been in a
ditch for a very long time. Though we did have a US Senator drive a car off a
bridge once. Isn't that enough?
Good editorial though, huh?
Jean
Sunday Republican EDITORIAL March 14, 2004 - Springfield, MA Safe-haven legislation lifesaver for newborns It will be two years in MA since Jennifer L. Paluseo placed her newborn
son in a black plastic trash bag after giving birth to the baby in the shower of
her dormitory at the University of Massachusetts. Last month, Paluseo appeared in Hampshire County Superior Court to
tearfully own up to her crime. Her effort to plead guilty was nearly stalled when
she told Judge Judd. J. Carhart she did not remember carrying the nine-pound, 2-ounce baby - wrapped in a yellow towel and placed in two trash bags - to
the trash room down the hall from her dorm room. Paluseo, who was a freshman when she gave birth to the baby, told Carhart
she remembered "bringing things from the bathroom and placing them in a bag." After a half-hour of meetings among the lawyers, the judge and Paluseo,
the 21-year-old returned to the stand where Carhart questioned her again. "Do you remember what you put in that bag?" he asked. She answered: "A
towel, and what was in that towel was a baby." The baby's death was a tragedy - one that will no doubt haunt Paluseo for many years to come. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy that happens all too
often. Since May 2000, 11 infants have been abandoned in Massachusetts. At least
four of those were in Western Massachusetts. Two died, including Paluseo's
baby. We're pleased that the Massachusetts House of Representatives is finally poised to do something to encourage scared young mothers such as Paluseo
to consider another option. The House on Thursday voted 137-21 to give
initial approval to the so-called "safe haven" bill, which would allow parents to
drop their newborns at a hospital or other designated safe sites without fear
of prosecution. The bill, which has been filed several times before, has yet to complete
the legislative process that would make it law. It must not fail this time. The bill needs one more level of approval in the House before it can be
sent to the Senate, which must give its OK by July 31 in order for the bill to
become law. Opponents argue that the bill would encourage child abandonment. We think that's a poor argument. Safe haven laws have been approved in 45 states. The anniversary of Paluseo's baby's death is May 1. We hope the
Legislature will act before then.>

"BabySafeHaven" <babysafehaven@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040316181229.10026.00001631@mb-m17.aol.com... <<<Would you drive your car off a cliff if everybody else was? Marley>>> Are you kidding me? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already been in
a ditch for a very long time. Though we did have a US Senator drive a car
off a bridge once. Isn't that enough? Good editorial though, huh? Jean

Pretty typical; tell a horror story, pose SH as the remedy, ignore
oppositional arguments. Isn't it the least bit important whether SH causes
more Paluseos? If not, why not? Because everybody wants to feel good, it's a
no-brainer. Whatever. Hurry up and get it passed, you're stinking up the
joint.

Ron Sunday Republican EDITORIAL March 14, 2004 - Springfield, MA Safe-haven legislation lifesaver for newborns It will be two years in MA since Jennifer L. Paluseo placed her newborn son in a black plastic trash bag after giving birth to the baby in the shower
of her dormitory at the University of Massachusetts. Last month, Paluseo appeared in Hampshire County Superior Court to tearfully own up to her crime. Her effort to plead guilty was nearly stalled when she told Judge Judd. J. Carhart she did not remember carrying the
nine-pound, 2-ounce baby - wrapped in a yellow towel and placed in two trash bags -
to the trash room down the hall from her dorm room. Paluseo, who was a freshman when she gave birth to the baby, told
Carhart she remembered "bringing things from the bathroom and placing them in a
bag." After a half-hour of meetings among the lawyers, the judge and Paluseo, the 21-year-old returned to the stand where Carhart questioned her again. "Do you remember what you put in that bag?" he asked. She answered: "A towel, and what was in that towel was a baby." The baby's death was a tragedy - one that will no doubt haunt Paluseo
for many years to come. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy that happens all too often. Since May 2000, 11 infants have been abandoned in Massachusetts. At
least four of those were in Western Massachusetts. Two died, including Paluseo's baby. We're pleased that the Massachusetts House of Representatives is finally poised to do something to encourage scared young mothers such as Paluseo to consider another option. The House on Thursday voted 137-21 to give initial approval to the so-called "safe haven" bill, which would allow parents
to drop their newborns at a hospital or other designated safe sites without fear of prosecution. The bill, which has been filed several times before, has yet to complete the legislative process that would make it law. It must not fail this time. The bill needs one more level of approval in the House before it can be sent to the Senate, which must give its OK by July 31 in order for the bill to become law. Opponents argue that the bill would encourage child abandonment. We
think that's a poor argument. Safe haven laws have been approved in 45 states. The anniversary of Paluseo's baby's death is May 1. We hope the Legislature will act before then.>

Be careful Ron. This is just the beginning of the crusade. There are other
kingdoms to conquer. Tink of the crusade as social neoconism. Trotsky would
be proud.

Marley

"Ron Morgan" <rhyzome1@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:LhQ5c.25241$%06.11503@newsread2.news.pas.eart hlink.net... "BabySafeHaven" <babysafehaven@aol.com> wrote in message news:20040316181229.10026.00001631@mb-m17.aol.com... <<<Would you drive your car off a cliff if everybody else was? Marley>>> Are you kidding me? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has already been
in a ditch for a very long time. Though we did have a US Senator drive a car off a bridge once. Isn't that enough? Good editorial though, huh? Jean Pretty typical; tell a horror story, pose SH as the remedy, ignore oppositional arguments. Isn't it the least bit important whether SH causes more Paluseos? If not, why not? Because everybody wants to feel good, it's
a no-brainer. Whatever. Hurry up and get it passed, you're stinking up the joint. Ron Sunday Republican EDITORIAL March 14, 2004 - Springfield, MA Safe-haven legislation lifesaver for newborns It will be two years in MA since Jennifer L. Paluseo placed her
newborn son in a black plastic trash bag after giving birth to the baby in the shower of her dormitory at the University of Massachusetts. Last month, Paluseo appeared in Hampshire County Superior Court to tearfully own up to her crime. Her effort to plead guilty was nearly stalled
when she told Judge Judd. J. Carhart she did not remember carrying the nine-pound, 2-ounce baby - wrapped in a yellow towel and placed in two trash
bags - to the trash room down the hall from her dorm room. Paluseo, who was a freshman when she gave birth to the baby, told Carhart she remembered "bringing things from the bathroom and placing them in a bag." After a half-hour of meetings among the lawyers, the judge and
Paluseo, the 21-year-old returned to the stand where Carhart questioned her again. "Do you remember what you put in that bag?" he asked. She answered: "A towel, and what was in that towel was a baby." The baby's death was a tragedy - one that will no doubt haunt Paluseo for many years to come. Unfortunately, it is a tragedy that happens all
too often. Since May 2000, 11 infants have been abandoned in Massachusetts. At least four of those were in Western Massachusetts. Two died, including Paluseo's baby. We're pleased that the Massachusetts House of Representatives is
finally poised to do something to encourage scared young mothers such as
Paluseo to consider another option. The House on Thursday voted 137-21 to give initial approval to the so-called "safe haven" bill, which would allow parents to drop their newborns at a hospital or other designated safe sites without
fear of prosecution. The bill, which has been filed several times before, has yet to
complete the legislative process that would make it law. It must not fail this
time. The bill needs one more level of approval in the House before it can
be sent to the Senate, which must give its OK by July 31 in order for the bill to become law. Opponents argue that the bill would encourage child abandonment. We think that's a poor argument. Safe haven laws have been approved in 45
states. The anniversary of Paluseo's baby's death is May 1. We hope the Legislature will act before then.>