It Is Wrong to Kill a Child, a Special Needs Child Does Not Give You a Get out of Jail Free Card.

There have been a couple of national news stories now about children being murdered one successful the other not. On both when the word is out that the child is autistic it goes from the mother should die to the poor mother she must have reached her breaking point. I have really hard days, even weeks with Josiah and never once does the thought of taking his life cross my mind. One mother used the excuse that her child (Issy) could overpower her where as the second victim (London) was just a small 6-year-old. The mothers' names are not worth mentioning. There is no excuse for murdering a child! It is horrible that these women were even bloggers and got their message out there, then society puts to light on the news articles that instead of wanting max sentence they are going to scream for mercy on those who murder their children. Society I beg you to change your view on this!

*The message below was written as an editorial for a class I had. I feel it should actually get published on my blog now.*

Killing a child is wrong. Why would a child with special needs who is even more vulnerable be any different? They are even more dependent upon the people around them for their needs to be met. It is obvious that killing a child is seen as the most horrendous form of murder by society, but then when a child has special needs it all changes in the majority of societies minds. It is seen as a mercy killing or that the poor parent reached their breaking point and could not handle the situation anymore. The parent is praised and the child is demonized and seen as the cause of the disaster. Life as a parent is difficult with or without a child having special needs so why is it seen differently in the eyes of society. It shouldn’t be different according the law, the Bible, and the options that parents have.

Our laws, that we have in place treat children with disabilities with equality. They have the right to a free public education that is the least restrictive to their abilities through the education act IDEA.  A person is not allowed to be discriminated at a job due to a disability they have. Why are parents allowed to then treat their kids badly either with abuse or murder because they have a disability and most of society, let it slide as the child just being too demanding of the parent special needs parent. Because our laws also support that children with disabilities be treated as equals as those without it also means that all other laws apply to those with disabilities. Murder except in the case of self defense or service in the military is illegal in all states of the United Sates along with many other countries.

The Bible teaches that you shall not murder (Deuteronomy 5.17). It does not give exception for the mercy of others. John 9:1-3  states that a person has special needs not because they have sinned or that their parents have sinned, but so that the works of God might be displayed in them. God arranged each of the members of the body as he chose (1 Corinthians 12.18). God is the one who makes everyone exactly as they are. He can make a child with special needs or one who is not (Exodus 4:11).

Last, but certainly not least there are so many other options for parents out there. If the law and moral right does not sway a parent or society from seeing how killing a child with special needs is just as wrong as killing a child without, then think about how there are still other options out there then to kill a child. If a child has become too much for a family to handle their needs, then instead of removing the child from the world and taking the life that belongs to them, they should let them have their life with another family who can, by placing the child up for adoption. There are many families out there willing to take children in with special needs and even some families searching for certain special needs that other children in their family already have, since they are already equipped to handle the needs of that child. 

Killing a child should never be the last resort out of a situation. Society, I urge you to stop screaming “bad  parent” to the parent who gives their child up for adoption when they can’t handle the circumstances and then screaming “mercy killing” to the parent who chooses to kill their child they cannot handle. It sends the message that killing your child is seen as a better option than giving a child up for adoption. I urge you to view killing a child with special needs as a horrible act, just like killing a child who does not have special needs is seen as. Children are gifts to the world no matter what their abilities are. Loving a child enough to give them up instead of killing them is the biggest selfless act of love.