Who will stand beside me?

I cannot be silent any longer. How can we live in a state that continues to coddle child abusers, murderers and pedophiles with a mere slap on the wrist?

A judge just sentenced a registered sexual predator in Coeur d'Alene for drugging a 9-year-old girl. He will be up for parole in two years.

A foster mother who beat her foster child for eating her bar of chocolate was put on probation.

We have all been reading and listening to the reports about the tragic life of a little 4-year-old girl in Spokane who was tortured and murdered.

I am finding it very difficult to find the words to express how deeply and truly saddened I am.

To think about the horror this child endured is simply beyond my scope and is quite simply unacceptable.

I have seen first hand the torture parents inflict upon these sweet innocents.

I have held them in my arms.

I have seen the burned finger tips, the bruises, the broken bones.

I have seen the blank empty eyes staring back at me from a child who is being fed a bottle for the first time in months because the father felt he was to old to have milk, and then taking my little finger and holding on while he drank.

I have felt their hugs and have caught their kisses blown my way.

Please write to your senators, representatives and the governor, tell them you want them to vote into law the Adam Walsh Law, tell them you want finger print background checks on all child care providers, tell them you want laws to protect the children of Idaho.

Tell them you are sick and tired of reading about children being abused and murdered in your state.

Please let your voice be heard, please stand beside me and change Idaho's statistics.

If we are loud enough maybe God will hear us and maybe the sweet four year old girl will hear us too.

MARSHA OGILVIE

Sandpoint