How many of you knew that protecting a child from serious abuse caused by parents who use/abuse illegal street drugs would be opposed so vehemently by state legislators who coincidentally are the recipients of “donations” from The Drug Policy Alliance?

In the state of California it is a felony to abuse an animal but when it comes to a child it’s often only a misdemeanor.

According to the “Center for Social Services Research” department at Berkeley, between July 1st 2005 and June 30th 2006 there were 495,000 reported cases of child abuse. In Stanislaus County there were more then 11,000 cases. In San Joaquin County there were 12, 000 cases. Fresno County had more than 17,000 and Sacramento had more then 24,000.

Also during the first 11 months of 2006 the city of Los Angeles had 79 child homicides. County wide there were more then 175. Sacramento County had 62 child homicides between 1999 and 2003.

90% of all child abuse cases are drug related. 50% of perpetrators are methamphetamine users. Methamphetamine users are (10) times more likely to commit child abuse.

Only (1) in 6 cases of child abuse are ever reported. 10’s of thousands of children suffer in silence until or if they’re abuse is discovered.

There are approximately 3 million California children who suffer from multiple definitions of child abuse, including willful cruelty, sexual and physical abuse, and severe neglect.

Research proves significant changes in brain chemistry for methamphetamine, heroin, as well as other illegal street drug users. Research also proves a direct correlation between illegal drug use and specific behaviors. We have already established through proven scientific methods, the indisputable fact that illegal drug use leads to the victimization of children and other serious crime.

The same children who are horrifically affected by parents/guardians/caregivers under the influence of illegal street drugs, at some point, statistically, will grow up to either become the next generation of drug using parents or community offenders. Some will be lucky enough to have had an intervention of some sort of their behalf, and maybe it will be enough to get them out of that lifestyle for good. Maybe.
On two separate occasions legislation was introduced on my behalf by Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, on both occasions the legislation was killed in the Public Safety Committee by Assemblyman Mark Leno and his fellow donation recipients.

If we can not protect children through the Public Safety Committee, what is the point of this committee? Isn’t it the job of our Public Safety Committee to protect us from harm? Each member took an oath of office to protect the people of California from enemies foreign and domestic. I absolutely believe that parents that use illegal drugs in the presence of any child, or parents who are under the influence of any illegal drug in the presence of any child should be guilty of a crime, and therefore a domestic threat.

When will we step up to the plate and protect children on the same level that we protect our animals?

By Linda Taylor