According to the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children’s Service’s website, 8,756 children were abused or neglected in the state from Oct. 1, 2013 through Sept. 30, 2014.
State law defines child abuse as “a child whose parent, guardian or custodian or any person responsible for his care or support, whether legally obligated to do so or not, has caused or allowed to be caused upon said child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, emotional abuse, mental injury, non-accidental physical injury or other maltreatment.”
In a perfect world, the number of abused children in the state would be zero.
Last week, the Item reported on the non-profit group Bikers Against Child Abuse and their efforts to start a chapter in Picayune.
The purpose of the club is to visit an abused child’s home and provide a positive role model for the child. Club members also said the biker persona helps scare away the child’s perpetrator.
Baton Rouge Chapter President Mike Goetzman said children often think it’s their fault they are being abused.
We applaud the efforts of this group of bikers who bring new meaning to the term community service.
It’s comforting to know there are caring people wiling to devote their time and efforts to securing happiness for victims of child abuse.
It’s discouraging to realize we live in a culture where some people believe it’s ok to abuse children.
It’s not ok and maybe it will take stricter laws to bring the situation under control.
However, until something drastic changes, we are thankful for groups like BACA that are making a difference in the lives of abused children.