Strange theory on child abductions

[C-dub]

I have a 7y old daughter and all these child abductions and killings really have my wife freaked out. It got me to wondering why have there been so many lately. I remember right after I bought my first handgun around Spring, 2002, that there seemed to be an increase at that time too and that's what prompted me to go ahead and get my CHL. Anyway, I don't know if there's any kind of cycle to something like this, but I was wondering if these scum were getting tired of adult women fighting back and moving to an easier target. Does anyone else have any thoughts or insight into this?

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I wish I did so that I would know it won't happen to either of my kids. But I dont and all I can do is stay alert and teach them the best I can.

Note: I did not say avoid certain areas because things like this can happen anywhere.

[Wisewr]

My thought is that there are PLENTY of women who would love some attention. Why do they feel like going and ripping someones child away and doing awful things to them? I know we have a justice system that we should rely on and if that doesn't work, in the end "Vengence is Mine", says the Lord. "I will repay." So these things ought to suffice, but I would be hard pressed to take up a man hunt by myself and find the BG if something like that happened to my family.

Even if they, the kidnappers, can't find a free willing woman, money can buy anything. Not that I would support that, but I'd rather them pay for it than take someones child.

[Kevinf2349]

Sadly, there have always been sicko's in the world....and unfortunately I believe there always will be.

I have several theories on why these things go in cycles, but the main one being....we drop our guard and only pick it back up after a case gets the publicity, by that time a predator has probably already struck...that is their nature.

I do question why were 7 years old kids are allowed to walk themselves to and from school unattended by any adult. That makes no sense to me. My kids didn't go to school alone until they were a lot older than that.

The bottom line is that while sickos are walking among us we need to be on our guard all the time, don't put ourselves or our loved ones into situations that involve unecessary risk. I am not saying take no risks and hide away from society, I mean just don't put ourselves into dangerous situations that can be avoid.

[Keith B]

While I agree there are more abductions today than in the past, I don't think the numbers are that much higher than they used to be. I believe you are just hear of them today more easily. With the Internet and AP coverage of EVERYTHING, it is easy to get the story to go national or international. Also, systems like Amber Alert help spread the word faster and make the public more aware of an event.

Also, be aware a lot of abductions you hear about are an estranged parent that has taken their kid(s), not some stranger.

[android]

I have a 7y old daughter and all these child abductions and killings really have my wife freaked out.

Does anyone else have any thoughts or insight into this?

Going by what I've read in the past, not looking up the stats today, but...

Strangers kidnapping kids is extremely rare. Most kidnappings are committed by non-custodial parents after a divorce. A big chunk of kidnappings outside those are people that the child still knows like a neighbor or some other contact.

Being married to your daughter's mother and knowing who your child associates with are the best things you can do.

Remember, the bigger deal the press makes about something, the less likely it is to happen to *you*.

[Purplehood]

Those that prey on children are not interested in grown women.

[Kythas]

I doubt there are more today than there were in, say, 1940. But then the news was localized, there were no 24 hour news channels which must fill up 24 hours per day of airtime, so when a child was abducted it was a local story and not a national one, unless the child involved was the child of a prominent person, such as the Lindbergh baby.

Plus, with cameras on almost every street corner, video of the person abducting the girl (it's almost always girls, isn't it?) is very visceral when we see it on TV every 30 minutes for weeks straight.

[Rex B]

I think nowadays we also see each case sensationalized twice - when it happens, and when they find the body. Modern technology and other methods make it a lot more likely a body will be found. 20 - 30 years ago they just disappeared, like my cousin in the 1980s.

[Excaliber]

I have a 7y old daughter and all these child abductions and killings really have my wife freaked out. It got me to wondering why have there been so many lately. I remember right after I bought my first handgun around Spring, 2002, that there seemed to be an increase at that time too and that's what prompted me to go ahead and get my CHL. Anyway, I don't know if there's any kind of cycle to something like this, but I was wondering if these scum were getting tired of adult women fighting back and moving to an easier target. Does anyone else have any thoughts or insight into this?

I was at a presentation by John Walsh, producer of America's Most Wanted and the father of an abducted and murdered child, on Monday. He made the point that back when his son Adam was killed in the '80's, abductions were not investigated like they are today. A missing child's name could not be put into the FBI's NCIC system, and there was no National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Incidents were investigated locally and haphazardly. If a murder victim turned up in another state, there was an excellent chance that one state would forever have an unsolved missing child case and the other would have a corpse they'd never identify.

I strongly suspect (but have no way to prove) that the numbers aren't much different today, but the reporting is much improved.

[C-dub]

Thanks for the insight everyone. I was reminded that this can be a very touchy subject so please be careful if responding. One of my problems is how to respond to my daughters' questions of why she can't do things some of her friends do. I just don't understand how some parents can let their kids walk around or play out of their sight so much. I don't have to always be watching her, but I do need to know someone that I trust is.

[dicion]

Thanks for the insight everyone. I was reminded that this can be a very touchy subject so please be careful if responding. One of my problems is how to respond to my daughters' questions of why she can't do things some of her friends do. I just don't understand how some parents can let their kids walk around or play out of their sight so much. I don't have to always be watching her, but I do need to know someone that I trust is.

Just tell her the same thing my parents told me when I was a kid.

Me: "Why Can't I do XXX... Johnny's parents let him!"/"Why Can't I go, Eric's parents are letting him go"
Dad: "Johnny's parents are idiots."/"Eric's parents are idiots."

Of course, my parents were frequently not liked by other kids parents, because obviously kids like to repeat what their parents say sometimes But, they also did not care for the most part :)

[C-dub]

Me: "Why Can't I do XXX... Johnny's parents let him!"/"Why Can't I go, Eric's parents are letting him go"
Dad: "Johnny's parents are idiots."/"Eric's parents are idiots."

I wish, but that would come back and bite me soooo hard. LOL

[Jeff B.]

Me: "Why Can't I do XXX... Johnny's parents let him!"/"Why Can't I go, Eric's parents are letting him go"
Dad: "Johnny's parents are idiots."/"Eric's parents are idiots."

I wish, but that would come back and bite me soooo hard. LOL

Sometimes, the truth hurts.

Jeff B.

[psijac]

media over saturation is partly to blame. I think last year there were 50 abductions for the entire USA. A negligent discharge is more likely to kill a child than a kidnapper. Above ND is drowning in a pool, and at the top of the list is fatal car accident