Now the circus will begin again!!

Those that have been with us for a very long time know me as the children. One of the reasons the Caylee Anthony case made me so upset was because of the complete lack of caring her mother seemed to show. I know every one displays emotion differently and everyone reacts differently but not reporting her child missing for a month and then not participating in searches or even acting like she cared just boggled my mind. For months the country watched riveted as information about this woman came out. Stolen checks, lies, partying days after her baby disappeared. The media went wild because the country was outraged.


The time has come for the trial because during that firestorm little Caylee's body was found and evidence seemed to point right back to her mother. Once again the circus has started up and this time I have to say it kind of ticks me off. CNN has had coverage daily of jury selection. Potential jurors are being dismissed because of reason ranging from the believable to the crazy. One even joked about a potential book coming from a jury duty experience on facebook. I mean really? You haven't even heard anything yet.


I am all about justice. I think that certain crimes deserve the maximum punishment. I wavered on this for a very long time and then I had my children and I knew that if someone had murdered my child or someone I loved there would be no better punishment in my mind then death. This is a capital case so the death penalty is on the table as I think it should be.


I also though feel compassion for the rest of the Anthony family. They lost a sweet baby girl that year and have had to deal with the media and the fact that one of their own is on trial for it. They deserve some privacy. It is them that I think deserve some respect. Sure some of the supposed news may be true of an abusive father and demanding mother but that alone did not create the woman Casey Anthony turned out to be. My husband comes from a family of 7. All raised in the same family and every single one as different as can be. Parents play a part but the choices a child makes also plays a part. Yes they will have to take some personal responsibility and I am sure over the past couple years since this happened they have battled some demons. They are going to sit through a trial of their daughter for the murder of their granddaughter. They should be able to do that is relative peace. It is for them that I wish the circus would back off a bit. I know it is a fruitless hope but a girl can always hope right?

Yet another pathetic excuse for a parent.

So I am working on getting rid of a headache and was just catching up on my news. A link on CNN's Nancy Grace's web page said "Toddler found dead in trash." I had to read it because stories like this just rip my heart out. Then I read the story and not only did my heart break but the anger factor went through the roof. I am so tired of reading and hearing about women who kill their children rather than ask for help or give them up. Race is no excuse, age is no excuse, laziness is no excuse, IQ is no excuse. There is no reason that children should die. Infants have safe haven recourse and older kids do have options. You can give up your rights. I know there can be legal ramifications but this has got to stop. I can't have any more children for a variety of reasons but we would love having more. We would adopt in a heartbeat and have actually talked about adopting a sibling pair from foster care once Squeak is older. My husband was in the system purely because his parents didn't want him. It was so hard sure, but better than being neglected and starved and abused due to shear stupidity and laziness. I miss the days when family was the most important and raising the children as a group was encouraged. It does take a village and all of us need to step up if we see a child in need so that these type of senseless acts never happen again.

Could be good or could be bad news!

So I am on my pilgrimage to the desert and have not been in contact with the world much except for phone calls to Gracie and Maggy. Anyway so last night I got to my Mom's house and we were talking about this lauded blog. (Yes may be only lauded by the 3 of us but a girl can dream!) I was talking about how I tend to be the hot topic blogger of the group. That led to talking about Drew Peterson which led to my mom telling me that the body they found was ruled to not be either Stacey or Lisa. I am undecided on if this is good news or bad news. It is good because that leaves the chances open that either woman is safe but bad because still we have no answers and with Drew Peterson up for murder charges the fact that Stacey is missing is not a very hopeful thing. I just hope that when the body is identified it will bring closure to another family that is in desperate need.

Has Stacey Peterson or Lisa Stebic been found?

I find it rather ironic that a week after Drew Peterson was arrested on murder charges pertaining to his third wife the body of his missing fourth wife may have been found. While 2 women have disappeared from the area the fact that a blue barrel was found near this body makes me lean more towards Stacey than Lisa. Either way at least one family will get the closure they deserve. I honestly have always doubted either woman of just walking away. What reportedly good, loving. devoted mother walks away from her children? While these bones lead to a hard answer to a sad question at least a family will get an answer.

Melissa Huckaby just won't give up.

Found a new story on this trash. I am guessing more kids will continue to pop up from this woman's past. Obviously she had been working up the nerve to do what she did to sweet Sandra Cantu for a while. It strikes me as incredibly sad that her behavior was not noticed before a life was lost. I wish people were more aware of what goes on around them. Maybe a senseless death could have been stopped!

Disgusting excuse for a person.

I am so sick of reading stories like this. Yet another POS mother that I would happily flip the switch for. What really gets me upset isd that she killed him twice. WTF? I can not imagine the suffering of this poor little guy.

I do not get women like this. How do you carry a child for 9 months, feed and nurture them for the first hardest years and then decide to end that small precious life? I can't even bring myself to spank my girls because I have such a hard time with them hurting. I hope this woman gets a chance to suffer like her child did.

Do they really think this will stop prostitution?

Craigslist has got to be beyond dense. They are changing their "erotic" section to an "adult" section. I get the thought. After the whole assault and murder thing was linked to them they are soooo out to cover their butts. Do they not think people will still lie about ages or intentions. This is going to do nothing but make this a craftier trade. Sure "legal adult service providers" will use the new and improved service but the illegal will find a way around and monitoring. Just like a gun ban only hurts legal gun owners all this does is provide a hiccup for the men and women trolling for a quick buck for that drug fix who really care less about rules and regulations. Prostitution is going to happen. Sex is a commodity in pretty much every society and little bumps in that road will not deter those desperate enough to sell themselves illegally. There needs to be legislation in place that really addresses this issue not lawmakers expecting companies to police it for them.

About dang time!

So good news all you crime watchers. Drew Peterson has been indicted on murder charges in the homicidal death of his 3rd wife.

Now when Stacy first disappeared I was willing to believe she had just ran off. I would never leave my kids but other women do it every day. When I learned she was his 4th wife I figured there was a reason these women divorced him.

The it came out that his 3rd wife died in a weird way. When her body was exhumed and a new autopsy was performed it was ruled a homicide. Then my imagination picked it up more. Murdered 3rd wife, missing 4th. Something is hokey here.

Then he has this girlfriend who is younger and moves in. Weird but good for him, just hope she is the "one" and not in danger. THEN it comes out that his "engagement" is basically a lie. OMG

How much more can the man do before he gets arrested? Thank Heavens some cops finally saw reason and arrested him!

No-Retreat AKA Castle Doctrine and Murder vs. Manslaughter

So after my last post on this and the discussion that followed I decided I wanted to know more. I did some research and was able to find some good info through my digging. Keep in mind this is not me going state by state to look at info but looking in net sources and finding consensus type stuff. (Info repeated in multiple places so most likely accurate.)

What I learned was interesting. I found a great source for info here. This type of self-defense law varies by state, some states count your property line as your castle boundaries while others limit you to the house itself and still others count your car as part of your castle. I found 36 states have a type of law falling into this "Castle Doctrine" category. Each is a little different from the next. Some require a moderate retreat attempt while others are of the No-Retreat variety.

I assumed going into this that probably all of the western states would have a form of this just because they tend toward gun rights a bit more heavenly than some. I was wrong. California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico , and Oregon actually have no such laws. I found one site that actually had a map that I found very helpful.

I also discovered that not all of the states with a "castle doctrine" law protect the property owner/resident from a civil case so while the SUV driver in our earlier mentioned case will not be criminally charged in some states a civil case for wrongful death would be allowed. I find that just ridiculous. If a state is going to allow you to shoot someone you feel is threatening your "castle" without fear of prosecution then letting the perpetrator sue them is a bit stupid in my book.

I also decided to look into murder vs. manslaughter. Ryan the 3L over at our brother blog brought up felony murder so I wanted more details. He also wrote a blog about "bad laws" that I found fascinating. Anyway the core of a murder charge seems to be malice coupled with intent. The length of intent does not matter. If you walk into a bar and some dude takes your drink and you think "I am going to kill this guy" and then stab him with your pool cue you have shown intent. Sucks huh? If you walk in on your husband in bed with your nanny and you beat them both to death with your shoe in a fit of rage then you have voluntary manslaughter or "a crime of passion". I personally think felony murder is kind of a nutty rule. I mean it makes sense that someone committing a crime that results in a death be punished but murder? Not sure how I like that. They will get the felony charge as it is, probably a couple of them, to tack on murder seems a bit much. Manslaughter absolutely but murder is over the top.

I am glad you all provoked the researcher in me. Knowing what I know now I would still defend my home and family with deadly force but at least I know I might get sued over it! ;)

This pisses me off!!

So I was on twitter and CNN had a tweet mentioning throwing a baby so I followed the link and got this! WTF??? I am so dang sick of hearing about children being treated like garbage. They are our future, they are the reason we are here. I am a firm believer that the 'purpose' of being on earth is to create a new and improved generation each time around. I certainly see my children as the gift that they are. Stories like this make me sick to my stomach. A swift execution would be too good for this man. I say burning at the stake!!!!!

No-Retreat Law : Who is the victim here?

Yup I was browsing my CNN again. I tend to check it every day. Today this story jumped out at me. Law protects SUV owner who shot, killed woman. It got me thinking, which is usually the goal of my news wandering. I think the SUV owner had the right to protect himself and his family. I have seen cases where a cop will shoot if a vehicle is coming at him. Pretty justifiable in my book but then some think I am a nut so who knows.

My issue comes at charging the boyfriend with murder. Was he stupid to be stealing a car? Heck yeah. She made the choice to get into the stolen car with him though. I hate the loss of any life, but when that life is lost while committing a crime it makes it difficult to truly mourn. You mourn the person but you do not mourn the circumstances if that makes sense. I think her boyfriend never even dreamed she would lose her life. If he had known it was happening he would most likely have not stolen the car. Should he be charged with murder then? No, not in my book. She was a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time and with the wrong man. It does not bring justice to punish him for something he had no intention of happening. I could see a negligent homicide charge or manslaughter, but not murder.

In my eyes this woman was both victim and offender just as the SUV owner was both. It goes to show that there are many more shades of gray to humanity than we admit too.

You have got to be joking!

So y'all know my great feelings about Melissa Huckaby. If she did what she is accused of she needs to fry. Well in my obsessive news checking I found a new article on this thing. (Woman is too kind let alone calling her a person.) Murder suspect linked to another abduction. Seriously? She was under suspicion of drugging and taking another little girl. Had they prosecuted on this then Sandra Cantu might still be alive. I am so in shock and flabbergasted.

Find the hope!

So once again the all to common news article has appeared about a parent killing their children, spouse, and then themselves due to money worries. We have been hearing about so many who have lost all hope and resorted to death to leave their worries behind.

Granted I know how money worries can cast a dark shadow over life. I know how it feels to wonder where the next paycheck was coming from. Luckily we have remained fairly steady through this downward economic time. We lost about half of the hub's retirement fund but we are young enough to be able to bounce back probably. Hubs has remained employed and we are moving and able to use the housing trend to purchase our own first home. However we had some very very lean years in the beginning. Where Hubs worked 2 jobs and I worked 1. Never though did the hope fade that we would be able to make a better life for us and our children.

The biggest problem with the current economical trend is that so many are loosing their hope. Hope is the one thing that can get us through rough times. This will pass, a new day will dawn, we will recover. We will learn from this and make better choices in the future. We can and will be okay!