" They really need to rethink this "program" of dropping of your kid at a hospital. What in the world has happened to responsibility? "

" I wish this governor would call a special session. After all he is supposed to look out for his citizens. Since when do we become a dumping grounds for everyone elses problems. These poor kids. I personally wonder if I as a citizen can sue each and everyone of these parents to retrieve my hardworking tax dollars. By the way, I wonder who will become the next governor? "

" As you can clearly see, the problem is teens and no place for them. Again we threw them to the trash can when rewriting the law. Has one baby been dropped off--NO. Before the law makers changed the law they needed to address the problem, again CLEARLY they have not. "

" 20 children in a little over 2 months? Is this indicative of a larger problem that our legislature ought to be thinking about instead of changing the law? "

" I don't understand why they think it should only be for 3 days and younger. If people can't manage their kids (i don't care what age) as a society shouldn't we want to make them productive citizens? Their has ONLY BEEN TWENTY CHILDREN left at hospitals, i don't see that as a crisis, i applaud our state for not turning its back on people who have obviously reached a point where they feel they have no choice. And with the high rate of teenage suicide i'm ok with anyone being dropped off. If you have kids you should understand that no parent wants to separate themselves from their kids it would be an desparate act, and in times like that i don't mind paying alittle more to help KIDS i don't know. "

" I remember an organization that was founded on taking in homeless children who had been orphaned or abandoned.

Hmmmm... what was their name again??? "

" This is so sad...what are we going to do? "

" I think this is sad. The law makers need to do something about all of the older children that are being dropped off. I think that parental rights have been taken away in this sue happy world. Parents need to be able to control their children. Our parents were able to control us, maybe to many young people are having children and keeping them and then they cannot deal with them. This is getting out of control!! Learn to control your children, you signed up to be the parent now be it and stop taking the easy way out. "

" Sad as it is that anyone would abandon a child, limiting the law to 3 days is over reacting to the legislature's first screw up which was leaving the law open up to age 18. What parent is going to realize in three days that they are unfit? Give them a year to discover what parenting is all about... "

" These 20 children are but drops of water trickling out from behind a dam that is holding back a larger problem. Putting a cork in the hole will not help the larger problem, but will just hide it away. We have a unique opportunity to address the true problem, but it seems we are spending our energies clucking about the sky falling and calling for special sessions. "

" Maybe the legislators should take time and work on the medicaid system and make certain that parents can provide for their difficult children. If they could do it themselves they wouldn't have to abandon their children. I cannot imagine having to leave my child in order to get him the help he needs. "

" Ernie you asked "what about responsibility?" well it's the parents of these parents whom failed to enforce the rules of society on their children and now their children are having children and when faced with a hard choice they run away from them for their parents usually padded them on the back and didn't make them face the consciences of their action. i know this from past 1st hand experience as my ex-wife and I could not agree on discipline which caused numerous problems. I commend MY state of Nebraska for failing to check the fine print in this law and allowing these children to be dropped off. If the law was written as it should have what would have to these children? Boys Town maybe or even worse, at least this way the "future" of our country have a chance. The only change would be to take children that are from Nebraska back to the state they are from and turn them over the that states CPS department so Nebraska doesn't become as Warren states "a dumping ground" for other states problems. "

" Three days is not long enough. There are clearly many children at risk here and the pendulum should not swing back to the other extreme. Safe Haven means the State of Nebraska should reach out to to protect kids at risk (infants AND children). "

" I can not believe so many people have begun to abuse the safe haven law. When it first came to be, it was made for newborn babies to be brought to the chosen place and be givin up without any charges being brought to the parents. It was not made for people to bring teens that give their parents problems. There are so many support systems for such cases if you just look.If more and more people keep abusing the safe haven laws, pretty soon there wont be such a law. Then what will happen to the newborn babies the really need this?? They will end up being tossed in a garbage can or even killed by a mother who just cant handle the stresses of motherhood. It is those BABIES that this law was truely made for. "

" I think the law should be left as it is.Do we really want another Robert Hawkins killing randomly like he did at Von Maur? These kids that are being dropped off obviously need help that their parents can't give them. "

" I agree that we are seeing that our real problem is at an older age since no babies have been dropped off. If lawmakers insist on changing the laws, at least make it up to school age. Younger children are still helpless and have nobody to protect them from a dangerous situation. At least once they start school, teachers and school officials have an opportunity to step in and provide children and families with more options, "

" I think instead of using hospitals as locations for "Safe Havens". We should change the location to the governor's mansion. Maybe he would take off his "Yahoo purple converse tennis shoes" and then he could fix this horrible mess. He really wants to run for a 2nd term the problem is he will probably win because of his strong anti-In State Tution stance for illegal immigration,not his lack of understanding of the laws he signs. "

" I think that the parents or guardians which decide one day to abandon their children because they can't be prosecuted should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. How dare they take a good thing and destroy it for the mothers who actually have no other alternative. I heard on the news that things would be changed if another teen was dropped off from another state. I think they need to re-write it and the ones who just decided that one day they didn't want to be a parent anymore needs to seriously be prosecuted. "

" My dad, on several occassions in the 70's, would drve by the childrens home in Lincoln on A st. when he felt trapped or mad. He never did leave us 2 kids, but I did feel some relief in knowing their was a place to go. (Just in case). Is there not a place for parents to seek up like this anymore? "

" Arrgh! Call the special session already! The only reason the governor won't is because of cost and the proximity to elections. Every football home game Saturday the governor hosts a huge tailgate party at the Governor's mansion for only specially invited honorees and VIP's. I live across the street and see a couple hundred people attend these parties. All at the tax payer's expense. Why not invite all the state legislators for the next home game tailgate party, feed them grilled burgers and hotdogs, then they can all wander across the street and fix this stupid law that is becoming an embarassment to our state and a burden on the tax payers financially. "

" I think rather than dropping them off at the Governer's Mansion, we should drop them off at Ernie Chambers house! "

" Why would three days be so bad? You propbly wont see any infants there it would take longer to realize you are unable to raise a baby. In Nebraska in a year how many teens actually kill thier babies under three days,if any? It is always the older ones that get killed from thier parents. The teenagers are the ones that need safe haven, cause with babies the parents of the kid that had them usually will take responsiblty for the baby. For the people that think it so easy to take care of a teen with problems, well first of all have a teen with these problems see how far they push you over the limits of santiy. I applaud any parent that knows their child needs help that they can't offer. Kids today think they can run the show. Putting in state ward is better for these kids than to abuse them. Any parent out there should think of all kids before running their mouth saying its a bad program at least they are not on the street or in jail where we would pay more for them. Anyone that has had any children know they should be taken care of any way possible. I would gladly pay for kids to be taken care of with the tax dollars now rathen than pay for another prison to house the kids we turned away years prior. If your not a parent you really shouldn't be posting cause you have no idea what kids are capeable of these days. Why people are taking their kids and dropping them off in safe haven at least they feel its better to do this than to commit child abuse. You may think its child abuse doing this but that child will eventually learn that the parent was at wits end and they needed help. I went up to my parents and thanked them for the butt kicking they gave me. If I would spank my kids today I would be in jail for abuse. The kids know they can get away with anything, they need to know what a belt is to be used for and not only to hold up their pants. A lot of people run from disapline cause of problems they can get into. Why not take these kids in without reprocussion at least you would be paying for it now rather than later in prisons which are overcrowded now. These parents are asking for help not prosecusion. What is wrong with people to only think this problem exsists here we opened pandora's box lets all try to fix it. Try thinking of ways to help these parents and children instead of saying they are bad people they shouldn't have kids. You don't know what the life they were leading before they dropped their kids off so in my thoughts think before you downgrade them. Walk a mile in their shoes. Responsiblity went out the door when government told us how we are to live like they want us to, how to raise our families. Your tax dollars that are being spent on kids will help you get SSI in later years. They are our furture we need to step up now and teach them right from wrong get them the schooling they need. No one really could imagine just leaving their kids anywhere until they are at wits end. "

" I'm a little confused by the statement "How dare they take a good thing and destroy it for the mothers who actually have no other alternative". Guess what, these are cases where mothers have no other alternative. The ones that have spoken out have said they have tried to get help, but cannot find any help, this was their last alternative. The law is doing what it was designed to do, protect the children from abandonment. The children from other states are being returned to their home states. "

" I know that it's kind of late to have a special session now but what it cost to have a special session and what it cost to take care of and process 20 kids im really starting to think they should just get this solved now. They can have the chamber ready to go and save some tax dollars. "

" This seems on the surface to be an easy fix, make the change. The problem is are we going to change it back when we hear about a child murder or abandoment. We need to rethink our snap judgement "

" Again we have posters that can't seem to get it through their heads that Sen. Chambers was the only member of the Unicameral to vote against this Bill. And it's also clear the Unicameral doesn't want to add any additional spending to the state budget so you can be sure the Safe Haven law will be modified to something close to 3 days. And yes a special session should be called now. I'm guessing as we get close to the holidays more out of state kids will be dropped off. And remember the economy is going to get much worse in other parts of the country before it happens here a delay in modifying this law will make it all the more likely we will see a huge influx of out of state kids before a modified law goes into effect. Even another 100 out of state kids will cost this state millions of dollars. I'm sorry we have our own house to take care of we don't need to take care of others. "

" these parents should be so ashamed then arrested for abandenment! raising children isnt easy but its also not a return to sender program . special session to change the age is needed. my tax dollars need to pay for something just do it this is getting crazy "

" Law or no law, these kids need help. If no one is willing to stand up for them the great state of NE will.

How do you suppose these kids are treated before they are dropped off? Does anyone honestly think they are not given a much better chance at life? How to pay for it needs to be addressed and there are several options. Kicking them to the curb can not be an option. Its not right. "

" Ever notice how the State can always find money for those huge raises given out to department heads that report to the Governor. There is one reason and one reason only why Heinimen refuses to call a special session; Ernie Chambers would still be involved and he would make the rest of the legislature look like the bunch of idiots they are. Ernie has stopped so much bad legislation it is not even funny. I can only imagine the terrible bills that will get passed in the future only because Ernie is not there to stop it. Thank you Ernie for your years of service. You will be sorely missed. "

" I wish the parents would think of their children and their feeling as the effects will last a life time. Especially when the one child is left at the hospital and there are more children that were able to stay at home. Imagine being left alone at a hospital knowing what is happeneing and your future is now bouncing around from treatment center to foster home until you age out, then not having any support out in the "real world" The most important thing for parents to know is that there is help out here, willing and waiting to support you and help you to succeed as parents as well as productive members of the community. What could be that bad that you have to drive 8 hours or more and leave your child in another state? Thank God that CEDARS is willing and able to help care for these children. It just shows that when you give a little there are so many people that take a lot and choose to just give up and let someone else worry about their problems. "

" A special session would cost quite a lot. And with about two months before the new session starts... well, the special session couldn't even take place for a week or two, at best. And just because you call a session doesn't mean anything changes quickly... "

" To Lincoln Taxpayer " I think rather than dropping them off at the Governer's Mansion, we should drop them off at Ernie Chambers house! "
What!? People get your information straight before spouting your rhetoric.
Ernie was the "maverick" on this bill. He was THE ONLY Senator who was opposed to this bill and specifically to it's wording and open endedness. There are those who hate Ernie so much they'll blame him for things he tried to avoid. Ernie was/is the only senator for years that kept Nebraskans on their toes.He stimulated logical and alternative answers to issues. He made people think which in this state is a very hard thing to get people to do. He's going to be missed. Mark my words. "

" The governor should be dealing with the problem along with other governors, safe haven/sanctuary is a national issue. The governor might also get Senate and Congressional members to begin addressing why the past eight years have resulted in desperate conditions.

Nebraska is not alone. Remember the extreme cases in San Francisco where the mayor said it was his view that the city's sanctuary laws were never intended to shield immigrant drug dealers from criminal prosecution, and reiterated that juvenile offenders would now be turned over to federal immigration authorities.

We should feel lucky the extremes have not been reached here. While safe haven for parents of juveniles and "discarded" children have become a center for controversy, the real problem of a growing number of "unwanted children" isn't being dealt with in a moral way. Why would the governor try to sweep these non infants into the dumpsters? "

" What is going on in this world?! Are these kids so bad that they are being driven half way across the country to be "abandon". Or is that parents just don't want to be parents anymore? Nebraska needs to give in and call the special session. If we wait til next year. I wonder how many more kids will be left! "

" to proudparent:

This law was spurred by the Megan Skrdlandt case, where she felt she couldnt care for her baby. I feel a safe haven law is nessecary, and parents shouldnt be "arrested for abandonment" as you so elequently noted in your opinion. 3 days isnt enough time, but 18 is pushing the envelope to far. Maybe some type of intervention is needed before a child can be dropped off, such as requiring them to take a parenting class such as "Love and Logic", which Cedar's offers parents. "

" It is the same set of state legislators who complain every day about how Medicaid will be eating up all of our tax revenues....the very same legislators who passed this crazy safe haven law. We have to insist that they fix the idiocy they performed NOW, or the state will be bankrupt even sooner than we thought. "

" Most states already had a "Safe Haven" law when one was proposed for Nebraska. Our senators couldn't save time by basing our law on another states and had to write their own. Other states don't have this problem with their law. Just shows how stupid our senators are. "

" Anyone have Georgia on their Safe Haven bingo card? I have Nebraska and Michigan, but they're not in the same row. "

" The people who are so outraged by this law obviously have never had an extremely difficult child to deal with. I have two boys, one is a well behaved, perfectly good kid. The other has O.D.D. (oppositional defiant disorder)I constantly worry about whether or not he is going to grow up to be a burden to society. With kids like this, consequences DO NOT matter. Our health insurance does not cover mental health. We are a middle class family who pays $150 per month just for his medication alone, which, by the way, wears off at 4:00 pm. I have looked around for help, and to all those people who say "help is out there", well, there isn't. You probably have never had to seek any out. Even on these news stories, you don't see any alternatives listed. What are you supposed to do with a kid who everytime they don't get what they want, goes into such a rage that you can't calm them down. They destroy your property, hit/kick you, call you every name in the book, look at you with such hate and fury and tell you they are going to kill you or themselves and they are only 9. They don't have any respect for discipline, punishment, rewards, authority. They just don't care. What do you do? Where do you go? What can you expect when they are teenagers? When you can't get help, you feel like your child has a death sentence. You feel there is no hope. So, please, lets talk solutions here people. If you are disgusted with this law, please tell parents like us any alternative at all. You obviously have it all figured out. "

" Folks from other States are wondering why Nebraska would call a special session to change such a law. I've heard many comments that this type of law should be adopted elsewhere. I think this is a case where Nebraska inadvertently backed into a leadership role that it now wants to renege on. Keep the law, and work with other states to get them up to par. "

" I had a difficult child and didn't dream of medicating him. I simply found a job that allowed me to spend more time with the family. Sure I took a pay cut and I spent many hours "parenting", but I have an honorable young man now. There are answers to all of life's questions and then there are excuses. "

" 3 days? Are you kidding me....Nebraska state law gives birth parents 5 days to decide whether or not they want to sign relinquishment papers for adoption or not. 3 days is crap...maybe the whole reason for this law in the first place was so girls/women wouldn't drop their kids in a garbage can right after birth. No one realized the huge problem some people have as parents when they can't handle their own kids. Adoption would be a fabulous answer for these kids...however, Nebraska's Foster Care system IS THE WORST in the entire U.S.....hey about fixing that first and start allowing capable people who want to adopt...adopt! "