NM consistently ranks among the worst in child safety. Every so often, a high profile case, such as the recent case of Victoria Martens, or somewhat less recent, Omaree Varela, comes along to stir things up. Several new laws are proposed, perhaps even with the name of a high profile victim, but no real change is made. Children are left in abusive homes, and current policy seems to be not to break up families, even in such abusive situations. This policy has failed miserably.

Making things worse is that the laws regarding child abuse are often fairly relaxed, treating such instances as less than actual murder in even the worst of cases. At absolute worst, it's a first degree felony, not a capital crime. These are children whom rely utterly on the ones who savagely beat them, rape them, and kill them... and failing that, they rely on the state to protect them... the state that all too often seems to look the other way.

Real and meaningful action must be taken! Child abuse is not "someone else's business." Children must be protected, and in failing that, we need to address the crimes as what they are, not toning them down because they're against children.