And In More Police State News Today
Parents in Upper Marlboro, Maryland were ordered to appear at a courthouse in Prince George's County to either prove their children had mandatory vaccinations or to have them vaccinated on the spot. Failure to comply with the order meant that the parent's faced jail time.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Hundreds of grumbling parents facing a threat of jail lined up at a courthouse Saturday to either prove that their school-age kids already had their required vaccinations or see that the youngsters submitted to the needle.
The get-tough policy in the Washington suburbs of Prince George's County was one of the strongest efforts made by any U.S. school system to ensure its youngsters receive their required immunizations.
Two months into the school year, school officials realized that more than 2,000 students in the county still didn't have the vaccinations they were supposed to have before attending class.
So Circuit Court Judge C. Philip Nichols ordered parents in a letter to appear at the courthouse Saturday and either get their children vaccinated on the spot or risk up to 10 days in jail. They could also provide proof of vaccination or an explanation why their kids didn't have them.
By about 8:30 a.m., the line of parents stretched outside the courthouse in the county on the east side of Washington.
Many of them complained that their children already were properly immunized but the school system had misplaced the records. They said efforts to get the paperwork straightened out had been futile.
"It was very intimidating," Territa Wooden of Largo said of the letter. She said she presented the paperwork at the courthouse Saturday and resolved the matter.
"I could be home asleep. My son had his shots," said Veinell Dickens of Upper Marlboro, who also blamed errant paperwork.
All of my children have had all of their state-mandated vaccinations. When one kid's records got lost, we had to dutifully go get the records replaced. I have little sympathy for parents who do not follow the rules. But I am dead set against this kind of heavy-handed, authoritarian tactic. None of my kids have ever been allowed to attend school without the requisite proof that they were vaccinated. This solution in search of a problem was caused - directly - by the inept school district that allowed the children in without proof of vaccination. There is an established policy and laws governing this. The children should have been barred from school and the parents brought in on truancy charges. The article states that this is in the books. That is the law that should have been followed.
What this judge did was expand the law into areas it was never meant to cover. He has no authority to order vaccinations (anyone familiar with the Maryland statutes feel free to chime in) - only to hold parents accountable for not following the laws that actually do apply. It may be "for the children" but it is against freedom.
Hold the parents accountable, certainly. But do not allow this sort of heavy-handed, police state tactic.
What the heck is going wrong in this country?
Uncategorized | Gaius Saturday, 17 November , 2007
By bill-tb, Saturday, 17 November , 2007 @ 5:48 pm
I assume they weren’t illegals, who don’t need vaccination papers or health checkups. That would be discrimination.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Saturday, 17 November , 2007 @ 5:57 pm
Those who believe that a gigantic, invasive nanny state providing cradle-to-grave security is no threat to civil liberties may want to re-think their views in the light of this (and other) evidence. Someone once said that the government that lays its hands on your purse will also lay it on your person as well. There is no such thing as a compassionate, benevolent tyranny.
By FedUp, Saturday, 17 November , 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Brings new meaning to the term ‘nanny state’. Is this judge elected or appointed? He needs to go!
By Glenn M. Cassel, AMH1(AW), USN, RET, Saturday, 17 November , 2007 @ 8:35 pm
Judge+School System: Tar and Feathers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Quilly Mammoth, Sunday, 18 November , 2007 @ 2:19 am
Bill Whittle once compared American society to an avocado. The hard working center surrounded by the soft pulp. What you see is the soft pulp while rest of us hard working centers keep on doing what we do.
Sooner or later the soft pulp sheds off and the hard center grows. I think we are nearing the time when the soft pulp falls off. I think many Americans are, indeed, having that “What the heck is going wrong in this country?” moment.
By Greg, Sunday, 18 November , 2007 @ 2:31 am
Reason #4,382 to homeschool your kids.
By Mwalimu Daudi, Sunday, 18 November , 2007 @ 2:51 am
Off-topic (but only slightly):
New Zealand immigration officials are keeping a U.K. wife from joining her husband “down under” because they say she is too fat, the Daily Mail reports.
This is another hidden cost of “universal” health care. Aside from rotten service, long waiting lists for crucial operations, and sub-standard care, that is. Be healthy - under penalty of law!
By FedUp, Sunday, 18 November , 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Tea Party anyone???