Television Station KFYR-TV in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that the North Dakota Senate has passed Bill 2125, which would require caretakers to report that he or she has discovered that a child is missing, or has died. The bill would require that the caretaker report the matter to the police within 24 hours if the child is younger than 13. If the child's age is between 13 and 17 years, the caretaker would have to report the matter within 48 hours. In the case of a child's death, the caretaker would have to make a report within two hours.
The bill was inspired by the Caylee Anthony case. Caylee was the Florida child who was missing for 31 days before her mother reported her disappearance to the authorities.
One would think that such a proposal would be non-controversial. Not so.
State Senator Margaret Sitte, (R) Bismarck, opposed the bill. She considers it unnecessary and over-reaching. Senator Sitte may also oppose the bill on Scriptural grounds (or has a strange sense of humor).
I affectionately call this bill the `Make Mary and Joseph Felons Bill` because Jesus was missing for three days.
This is a reference to the story in the Second Chapter of the Gospel of Luke about the Holy family's visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was 12 years old. Joseph and Mary left jerusalem, thinking that Jesus was among the caravan. To their horror, they discovered that Jesus was not with the traveling company, so they headed back to Jerusalem to find the Child.
[39] When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. [40] And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
[41] Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. [42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. [43] After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. [44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. [45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. [46] After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. [47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. [48] When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
[49] "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" [50] But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
[51] Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Just when you think that you have heard the ultimate in Republican Craziness....
Here is a bit more about the State Senator....
According to her biography, she is married and has four children. By profession, she is an English teacher, with an Associate's degree from Bismarck Community College, a Bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University, and a Master's degree from the University of North Dakota. She is a Roman Catholic and attends the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. She is Vice-Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and is also on the Transportation and Rules Committees, and is a member of the Advisory Commission on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
The bills and resolutions that she has introduced include:
SB 2152
Relating to ownership of professional organizations.
SB 2250
Relating to participation in the health information organization.
SB 2302
A BILL for an Act to provide for the ethical treatment of human embryos; and to provide a penalty.
SB 2340
A BILL for an Act to provide for a legislative management study of penalties for minor drug crimes.
SCR 4003
A concurrent resolution recognizing School Choice Week.
SCR 4009
Relating to the inalienable right to life of every human being at every stage of development.
SCR 4016
A concurrent resolution to rescind an application made by the Sixty‑second Legislative Assembly to the Congress of the United States to call a convention pursuant to the terms of Article V of the United States Constitution for proposing an amendment to the Constitution.
SCR 4017
Relating to the Obama Administration's proposal that the Senate of the United States consider adoption of a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
If one clicks on the link associated with one of the above bills, one is taken to a web page that contains further information, including the full text which downloads in the form of a PDF file. E.g., the First Engrossment of SCR 4017 downloads to your computer if you click on the
13.8266.02000 link. This proposal decries a Treaty that woud threaten North Dakotans' Second Amendment Freedoms, subject them to violation of international laws within the borders of the United States, and possibly impair our military's ability – or even render our military unable – to assert the national right of self-defense against other nations!
According to this source, the State Senator is also a Member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army, and has been an Editorial Page Columnist for the Bismarck Tribune.