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http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs....8/NEWS/4101803
15/1003/NEWS02
Activist walks to promote 'safe haven' law
October 18, 2004
By Daniel Barlow Rutland Herald
HINESBURG — When Rocky Harlow's second child was born five years ago, he read
about a teenage mother who abandoned her baby in a trash can after giving birth
at her prom.
"It would just tear me up to hear about those stories," he said.
He decided to do something about it. Last week, he hit the trails to bring
attention to the lack of "safe haven" laws in Vermont.
Harlow, a theatrical light equipment salesman who lives in Hinesburg, was
hoping to highlight the state's lack of laws decriminalizing newborn
abandonment. He walked more than 34 miles from his home here to Montpelier,
arriving Friday afternoon.
"My hope was to generate public interst and visible interest in this," he said
Sunday.
Vermont is one of four states in the country without such a law, which many
believe saves the lives of unwanted infants by creating an alternative to
abandoning them outside.
Harlow said he has tried contacting numerous Vermont legislators to sponsor a
bill in the House or Senate, but his effort resulted in many promises, but no
action. He hopes that his walk, which ended with a press conference at the
office of Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, will prompt a legislator to take up
the issue.
"It's almost as if they are waiting for a body to show up first," Harlow said
last week, before his walk, referring to the low number of child abandonment
cases in Vermont. "I thought the Vermont Legislature was really
forward-thinking and proactive."
He has since been contacted by a legislator, who has expressed interest in
pursuing the topic.
Texas, which sees approximately 33 abandoned babies each year, was the first
state to pass a safe haven law in 1999. Beside Vermont, neither Nebraska,
Alaska nor Hawaii have passed safe haven laws.
Under these laws, a mother who has an unwanted child can hand the infant over
to a law enforcement agency without any questions; typically, supporters of
these laws say, these children would be left for dead in trash cans, bathrooms
or the woods.
Harlow was joined on the walk by his father, Bud Harlow. His younger sister,
Heather Harlow, walked with him the first day. Also hiking with him were two
safe haven advocates who flew in from California and three advocates who drove
up from Massachusetts. The Massachusetts safe haven law will become active Oct.
29.
"A lot of laws passed are because of cause and effect," said Michael Morrisey,
an advocate from Massachusetts, who became involved in the movement three years
ago after he and his wife handled the burial of an abandoned newborn in Boston.
"A lot of lawmakers probably say this isn't happening in Vermont, why should we
pass this law?"Harlow covered approximately 22 miles the first day, and spent
the night at the state park in Waterbury. He arrived in Montpelier a little
after noon, "just enough time to get something to eat and stiffen up a bit," he
said Sunday night.
Markowitz, who discovered an abandoned baby girl during a walk in 1991, spoke
with him at the press conference.
"She will be a great ally in moving this forward," he said afterwards.
But it has occurred in Vermont, he explained. In the late 1990s, for example, a
Green Mountain College student abandoned her infant in Poultney. The child
survived.
Harlow said he is cautiously optimistic that the publicity will get a
legislator to support his initiative.
"It's extremely frustrating that our state legislators are determined not to
take action," he said. "This is an issue they have continually ignored."
http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs....8/NEWS/4101803
15/1003/NEWS02
Activist walks to promote 'safe haven' law
October 18, 2004
By Daniel Barlow Rutland Herald
HINESBURG — When Rocky Harlow's second child was born five years ago, he read
about a teenage mother who abandoned her baby in a trash can after giving birth
at her prom.
"It would just tear me up to hear about those stories," he said.
He decided to do something about it. Last week, he hit the trails to bring
attention to the lack of "safe haven" laws in Vermont.
Harlow, a theatrical light equipment salesman who lives in Hinesburg, was
hoping to highlight the state's lack of laws decriminalizing newborn
abandonment. He walked more than 34 miles from his home here to Montpelier,
arriving Friday afternoon.
"My hope was to generate public interst and visible interest in this," he said
Sunday.
Vermont is one of four states in the country without such a law, which many
believe saves the lives of unwanted infants by creating an alternative to
abandoning them outside.
Harlow said he has tried contacting numerous Vermont legislators to sponsor a
bill in the House or Senate, but his effort resulted in many promises, but no
action. He hopes that his walk, which ended with a press conference at the
office of Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, will prompt a legislator to take up
the issue.
"It's almost as if they are waiting for a body to show up first," Harlow said
last week, before his walk, referring to the low number of child abandonment
cases in Vermont. "I thought the Vermont Legislature was really
forward-thinking and proactive."
He has since been contacted by a legislator, who has expressed interest in
pursuing the topic.
Texas, which sees approximately 33 abandoned babies each year, was the first
state to pass a safe haven law in 1999. Beside Vermont, neither Nebraska,
Alaska nor Hawaii have passed safe haven laws.
Under these laws, a mother who has an unwanted child can hand the infant over
to a law enforcement agency without any questions; typically, supporters of
these laws say, these children would be left for dead in trash cans, bathrooms
or the woods.
Harlow was joined on the walk by his father, Bud Harlow. His younger sister,
Heather Harlow, walked with him the first day. Also hiking with him were two
safe haven advocates who flew in from California and three advocates who drove
up from Massachusetts. The Massachusetts safe haven law will become active Oct.
29.
"A lot of laws passed are because of cause and effect," said Michael Morrisey,
an advocate from Massachusetts, who became involved in the movement three years
ago after he and his wife handled the burial of an abandoned newborn in Boston.
"A lot of lawmakers probably say this isn't happening in Vermont, why should we
pass this law?"Harlow covered approximately 22 miles the first day, and spent
the night at the state park in Waterbury. He arrived in Montpelier a little
after noon, "just enough time to get something to eat and stiffen up a bit," he
said Sunday night.
Markowitz, who discovered an abandoned baby girl during a walk in 1991, spoke
with him at the press conference.
"She will be a great ally in moving this forward," he said afterwards.
But it has occurred in Vermont, he explained. In the late 1990s, for example, a
Green Mountain College student abandoned her infant in Poultney. The child
survived.
Harlow said he is cautiously optimistic that the publicity will get a
legislator to support his initiative.
"It's extremely frustrating that our state legislators are determined not to
take action," he said. "This is an issue they have continually ignored."
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