Safe Haven Laws

While the safe haven laws enacted in the 47 states in the United States address the problem of child abandonment and infanticide, it does so only to a certain extent. Undeniably, it saves children from parents who are not psychologically equipped to handle being responsible for another human being. On the other hand, we need to think of mothers and what they have to go through prior and even after abandoning their babies. Whereas it is absolutely inexcusable that a mother should in fact abandon her baby, are there other ways that society can be of help to her when she is pregnant and doesn’t know what to do with the baby once it’s born?

“The idea of providing a safe and legal way for parents to abandon babies has swept the nation, with 47 states enacting safe-haven laws since 1999” (Black, 2006). Safe haven laws are, in their very essence, laws that have been enacted by States in the U.S. to deal with infant abandonment which, in most cases, leads to infanticide. What the safe haven laws are meant to do is give a reasonable alternative to mothers who feel they have no other options. “Since Illinois’ Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act took effect on August 17, 2001, almost as many babies have died after being illegally dumped as have been brought to a safe haven…” (Black, 2006). This leads some to question whether the safe haven laws are doing much good. On the other hand, the number of babies who would have been dumped and died if there were no safe haven laws is astonishing.

The abandonment of babies by their mothers is not something new to humanity. Since biblical times, it has existed. When I was young, my Sunday school teacher narrated to us the story of baby Moses who was abandoned by his mother on a body of water in a basket. He was later found by Pharaoh’s wife who took him into her custody. This story fascinated me to say the least. The ironic twist to this story is that Moses later became a Prophet who went on to save the Egyptians from the cruel pharaoh and led them across the Red Sea. He became a leader! I am sure no one would have thought this of him when he was found abandoned in that sea. Essentially though, this is the potential of all the children who are left to die by dumpsters and in toilets.