Lika's Sharebook 

Okay. So you're a parent. You have a kid whose fairly smart, and usually has a good head on their shoulders. The kid wants to be a dolphin expert some day. You can afford a descent vacation to take a field trip to Sea World. You let the smart kid who wants to work with dolphins to the area where kid can feed them. Kid gets excited over not having any fish left for dolphins, and picks up the empty container despite signs and warnings NOT to do this near the pool. Dolphin acts like a dolphin, reaches up, bites at the cardboard, and bites the kid's hand while at it. Kid is fine, just some superficial wounds, understands that she messed up... Sea World staff responds, attending to the family.

Sounds like a learning session... but, the parents are mad because the dolphin "attacked" the kid? Um. No. The dolphin attacked the container, thinking there was food in it. Duh. The kid is worried more about the dolphin eating the cardboard container than her own hand. The parents want something done about it, even though there are isolated incidents such as this that happen. The last one was 6 years ago.

Solution: Parents should keep better eye on their kids while going to sea world.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/video-dolphin-bites-8-old-girl-sea-world-171256376--abc-news-topstories.html

Sen. Van Wanggaard

State Capitol, Room 319 South

2 East Main Street

Madison WI 53702

Greetings,

On July 5, 2011, at 1:15 pm CST, Casey Anthony was found not guilty of first degree murder in the death of her daughter Caylee Anthony. The only charges she now faces are four counts of falsifying police reports, each of which only carries a 1 year prison term. Since she has been in jail since August 2008, she will be out of jail ENTIRELY too soon.

I'm writing to propose that a new law be put into effect making it a felony for a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker to not notify law enforcement of the disappearance of a child within 24 hours, so proper steps can be taken to find that child before it's too late.

This way there will be no more cases like Casey Anthony's in the courts, and no more innocent children will have to go without justice.

The case of Caylee Anthony was tragic, and there is no reason for another case like this one to hit the courts. Let's do what is necessary to prevent another case like this from happening.

Note: this email was sent as part of a petition started on Change.org, viewable at www.change.org/petitions/create-caylees-law.

To respond, email responses@change.org and include a link to this petition.

Lika Saliscente

Dear Lika,

Thank you for sharing your opinion that Wisconsin should enact Caylee’s Law, stiffening penalties for failure to report a missing child or the death of a child. I value your opinion, and I appreciate that you took the time to share your opinion with me.

Several of my colleagues have expressed interest in drafting a version of Caylee’s Law, and Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake) is leading the way in the Assembly. Any child abuse case is a tragedy, and we must protect our children.

It is important to note that Wisconsin law already provides safeguards against incidents similar to the Casey Anthony case. Wisconsin Statute 948.21 states that, “Any person who is responsible for a child's welfare who, through his or her actions or failure to take action, intentionally contributes to the neglect of the child is guilty of…a Class D felony if death is a consequence.” There are additional state statutes that address hiding a corpse (Class F felony) and providing false information in the case of kidnapped or missing persons (Class H felony).

Again, thank you for contacting me on this issue. Should any legislation come before me in the Senate, I will keep your concerns in mind. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns on this, or any other, issue.

Van Wanggaard

Wisconsin State Senator