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Adopt Missing Childrcn’s Act

Click to see original imageOnly those close to such situations can full! understand the lnartache an anxious uncertainty that parents and familis fed whui a loved orue is ahducted…or the horror experienced by the victims, even If eventually released. Moved by the kidnapping of s year- old Rachael Marie Rumyan and similar cases in his ownstate, Rep. Dan Marriott, RUtah has written his 434 colleagues in the House of Representatives un-ging quick passage of a pending bill to help locate missing children. Prime sponsors of lm WI! to expand l-‘Bl tracking data in such casa are Reps. Paul Simon, D-lll. and Clay Shaw, RFla. The bill has cleared the House Judiciary Committee. The Senate already has passed a similar act. ‘ Marriott, a co-sponsor, says 50,000 to 100,000 children are unaccounted for each year nationwide. including childstealing, runaways, and youngsters otherwise missing. The FBI told the congressman’s oflice its curreut file shows l(B,0tl) children and teens undo; aldluurltr age ar missing. T e r ment’s figure is much Aecuracy depends to some extent on the diligence in reporiug persons either lost or retur . Jeff and Elaine Runyan, porn-its of Rachael who was snatched Aug. 26 from a school playground adjacent to the Runyan home in Sunset, Utah, made a national TV plea for public cooperation in locating the blond child. “If you adopt in the next year, if you have a new 3-year-old in your neighborhood, mare sure she’s not ‘r,” Mrs. Bunyan ap . s.The abductor, who lured the tot with bubble gum, was described as a Z5 to 35 year-old black man. “Somebody knows this man; somebody knows this girl,” Mrs. Rumyan said in a challenge to the public to be slert in suspicious situations and in reporting eurldmce. The city of Samet has posted a $20,000 reward and the Rumyans have raised another $i),CI’I). The FBI has joined in the search. The legislation would add to search information that goes into the FBl’s master crime computer to include blood w dental recorui, scars and o r such data. ulihuzlduer, it would create s na reystry for unidentified bodies to help coroners match these withmissing pesun. The bill should be adopted without delay. However, its limitations should be recognised and passage should signal extra efforts rather than a letdown agairat kidnapping; and other aspects of the overall problem. Aroused publlc awareness, tougher crime laws where needed, precautionary training un the luome and schooh, and eternal watchfulness-these can do a great deal to complement the legislation and helplnsure child safety and security.