Aspies For Freedom

I guess there's no making an example of "mercy" killers of Autistic children. I hope she rots in hell. Where's the sympathy for the child, it's always the parent who seems to get to be coddled like a baby for how much they suffered taking care of a Autistic child.

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Not that it changes anything, but I do wonder what Patrick actually had. Autism and Down Syndrome can occur together in the same person but no one, obviously, "develops" autism in their 20s.

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DW_a_mom I have noticed that about you, and I've kindly not have brought it up to you. However, I think that if a parent has a child they should know their life will be dedicated to their child. If you have a disabled child, well you know what, that's a possiblity with any pregnancy.

I'm tired of this ignorance as an excuse standpoint on this. "Oh I had no idea, now I'm trapped taking care of my child!" Hey if you wanted a life outside of the family, you shouldn't have pro-created. Simple as that.

You can feel sorry for the moms all you want, but they knew what they were getting into when they decided to have a child, or they should've known. There is no room for pity when a mother kills her child, because she can't handle it anymore. It's pathetic.

They don't give psych evals to women before they get preganant, but maybe they should. Then these wishy-washy mothers can be sorted out of the lot, before they create a situation that they suddenly will realize was never for them in the first place.

Oops, I just tuned into this thread.  I don't see how having this woman serve jail time would serve much of a purpose.  Asking her to do longterm community service might be more appropriate. I'm guessing she feels really guilty and will, for the rest of her life.  Gotta wonder where the father/husband was in all this.

I've never had kids.  I was terrified at the idea, for some of the reasons raised by DW. I don't know how I would have coped with a special needs child. I always thought that I'd go crazy being trapped at home with a child.    I wish the woman could have gotten help.  Not everyone should be a parent, and even someone who goes into it with the best of intentions could get blindsided, I think.  And I don't say this to condone injuring or killing a child or any person.  But I can see how someone could crack.

I'm skeptical about how much of a deterrent prison is for domestic abusers (of children, spouses, parents, etc).  I don't consider the people who do violence to their intimates to be thinking rationally about consequences.

For the woman described here, she'd probably prefer prison to what she was experiencing (which itself was a kind of prison)--she tried to kill herself.

I think that prison should be used for people who are a direct danger to society and that other forms of punishment/restitution should be applied to other forms of criminal behavior.  Like community service, fining people, etc.

I'd certainly like to make sure she can have no more babies to abuse and murder.  
Alison

You raise good points, Conlang.  Thanks

Agree with Conlang, and I really think people are missing the point of all this and veering off into a hang-em-flog-em response, which I don't think is the correct response to *any* crime. And certainly not to a single mother who goes shoplifting (your example Amy).

The point is that if the child is handicapped, sympathy is given to the killer that does not exist in other cases. However, crime is a social problem, not the result of wicked individuals. And such crimes as the one we are discussing will continue until society changes. Locking her up for ages will not prevent any similar crimes.

Tying her tubes would, though.
Alison