Parental Rights

With Parental Rights taking a beating across the nation, and CPS stomping all over families in most every state, I finally reached my boiling point and sent the following to my Texas State Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Speaker of the House, State Senator, State Representative, and US Congressman from Texas. Feel free to do so in your state as well… in fact, I think we should bombard our representatives with our stern belief that they should act.

Here is what I sent them…

In this day and age, it seems the goal of a vocal minority to undermine the traditional family and the strength and power of a parent to raise their own children. In California, the unthinkable has happened; children can now seek abortions without parental notification. The time has come for Texans to take a proactive approach in the future of our children and our society, and to formulate a Parental Bill of Rights. It is not enough to have laws on the books; it is not enough to talk the talk; in this day and age, we MUST add to the Texas State Constitution the rights that every parent in the world assumed they had. The time for assumption has ended. I implore you to set forth the following Parental Bill of Rights:
Rights of the Parent and the Child:
1. Parents have the exclusive right to tend to the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and intellectual needs of their Minor Child.
2. The Minor Child has a right to be free of wanton cruelty and neglect at the hands of their Parent. The burden of proof of wanton cruelty or neglect of a child is upon the State. Parents are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
3. The Parent has the right to access their Minor Child's records, property, papers, and effects; to search their Minor Child's person; and to make any and all decisions on behalf of the Minor Child.
4. The Minor Child is under the strict control of the Parent.
5. Parents have the right to be present during any questioning of their Minor Child by Law Enforcement or Child Protective Services, unless that Parent is the accused, or the suspect, in a crime against his child or children.
6. In the event that a Law Enforcement agent or a member of Child Protective Services feels that a child’s life is in immediate danger, they may take possession of the child, in accordance to law, provided that an emergency hearing is held within 72 hours to determine the legitimacy of the claim. In any event, the Parent shall be allowed to freely interact with their child under the appropriate supervision at least 2 hours each day until the hearing takes place, in accordance to law.
7. Child Protective Services shall be held to the same standard as Law Enforcement, and must be accountable for their action or inaction. Child Protective Services shall afford Parents all reasonable consideration of their rights, in the same manner that Law Enforcement must adhere to the rights of the accused. Child Protective Services are not exempt from civil or criminal legal action being taken against them.
8. No child shall languish in the court system, and no Parent accused of cruelty or neglect of a child shall be denied access to that child until they are duly convicted in a court of law. If during the course of court proceedings, the child has been temporarily made a ward of the state, the Parent has the right to freely interact with their child, under the appropriate supervision, at least 2 hours each day, in accordance to law, until such time as the Court has passed final judgment in the matter.
9. It is in the Child’s best interests to maintain a relationship with both Parent’s and his or her siblings; and the State of Texas will make every reasonable effort to guarantee this occurs.
10. A Child gains emancipation from the Parent when the Child reaches the age of 18 or is otherwise emancipated in accordance to law.

…Well, I have now thrown down the gauntlet; let’s see if they take the challenge. If not, perhaps a few of you out there can “nudge” them a bit.