Chelsea King is 17.  A senior in high school. Straight A student. A runner.  A world of possibilities on her doorstep.

And now she’s probably dead.

Last week she decided to go for a run after school.  So she parked her car at a park, locked the doors, and probably even stashed her purse in the trunk.  But she never came back.

Yesterday police arrested John Albert Gardner III, after physical evidence led them to believe that Gardner had raped and killed the still missing Chelsea.  This story sucks.  It is the sort of tragedy that is so vile that it’s almost unbearable to think about.  It makes my stomach hurt and my heart twist into a knot and my eyes well up when I think of my two precious daughters.

But it was a punch in the gut to read this part of the story:

Gardner is a registered sex offender convicted of committing a lewd or lascivious act on a child younger than 14, the Union-Tribune said. Details of a 2000 criminal San Diego Superior Court case he was involved in were not available, the newspaper said.

What the heck was a man who committed a lewd or lascivious act on a child doing out of prison?  Child rapists give up their government protected rights when they decide to commit the most disgusting and perverted act known to man.  Lock them up and throw away the key.  What the heck good is requiring them to register and making their addresses known to anyone through sites like Megan’s Law?  A site with a disclaimer that specifically states: Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability.

I just looked up my neighboorhood, and there’s a man living a mile away from me that’s been charged four times with “lewd of lascivious acts with children under 14,” or “oral copulation with persons under 14 by force.”  Now what am I supposed to do with this information?  Skip his house at Halloween?  It’s not like I can stick a sign in his front yard that says, “Beware of Child Rapist!” That might hurt his feelings or something.

Something is wrong with our system when the sex offenders have more rights than Chelsea King did.  Because of all the protection awarded to convicted sex felons, her young life was unprotected.  A list of addresses is not enough.  Obviously.

From USA Today:

Nutritionists have long warned of the perils of hot dogs: fat, sodium and preservatives to name a few.

Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics wants foods like hot dogs to come with a warning label — not because of their nutritional risks but because they pose a choking hazard to babies and children.

Better yet, the academy would like to see foods such as hot dogs “redesigned” so their size, shape and texture make them less likely to lodge in a youngster’s throat. More than 10,000 children under 14 go to the emergency room each year after choking on food, and up to 77 die, says the new policy statement, published online today in Pediatrics. About 17% of food-related asphyxiations are caused by hot dogs.

How about having a little faith in parents to actually be responsible for their children?  I’m a mom, and it’s not exactly rocket science to figure out how to feed your kids.  Mushed up food first.  Then easy to chew finger foods like Cheerios or diced fruit.  As they get more teeth and more control over their mouth and throat muscles, you can move into bigger and better things like hot dogs or carrot sticks.  Parents should use their brains and rely on common sense a little bit more, instead of on government to take care of their every parenting question.

Haitian judge Bernard Saint-Vil reccommended that the 10 missionaries being held on kidnapping charges in Haiti be released, after hearing their testimony yesterday afternoon.

The controversy over these Americans in Haiti began last week when they attempted to cross the border into the Dominican Republic with children they had “rescued” from an orphanage.  Only as it turns out, several of the children still had living parents. The judge also heard testimony from the parents of these children, who readily admitted that they had given their children to the missionaries hoping and praying for a better life for them.

“After listening to the families, I see the possibility that they can all be released,” Saint-Vil told The Associated Press. “I am recommending that all 10 Americans be released.”

That was Wednesday.  By mid-day Thursday, Saint-Vil still had not delivered his formal recommendation to the prosecutor on the case, who could potentially appeal the ruling.

Come on Haiti.  I know it’s a confusing time right now with your main city in a pile of rubble and over 217,000 people dead.  But you guys have bigger problems than holding citizens from a country that has shown you nothing but compassion and generosity.  Like how about taking care of the looters, murderers, and rapists roaming the streets?  I know it might be difficult to differentiate between the criminals and the missionaries, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

Otherwise, President Obama needs to grow a pair and pull our troops and funding out of there.  If Haiti wants to play by it’s own rules, that’s fine. But America doesn’t need to fund it.

From CNNmoney.com:

NEW YORK  — All Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds are being recalled after reports of babies and toddlers dying from strangulation, the federal agency in charge of product safety announced Tuesday — one of the five largest recalls in the agency’s 35-year history.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall affects more than 50 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds, which have cords that can get caught around children’s necks.

25 million Roman shades were recalled because an infant’s head can get caught between the cord and the fabric.

CPSC said 5 children have died of strangulation and 16 others have been nearly strangled since 2006 because of the Roman shades, which pose a problem because of space between the inner cord and the shade fabric. The recall affects 25 million Roman shades.

Roll-up blinds have a large loop at the end of the cord that can strangle young children, the CPSC said, adding that 3 children have died from the roll-up blinds’ hazard since 2000. The recall affects 27 million roll-up blinds.

Also being recalled:

Bathtubs:  Almost 100 children die annually by drowning in bathtubs.

Pillows: Suffocation due to soft pillows in the crib is the leading cause of death in babies under age 1.

Extension Cords: Electrical burns to the mouth account for half of the extension-cord-related injuries to young children. They like to chew on them.  The other half probably die from accidental strangulation by the cord.

Cleaning products, medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and plants: Poisoning by these common household items is the 5th leading cause of accidental death in young children.

Cars: 250,000 children are harmed each year in traffic accidents, and of those, 2000 die.

Or maybe instead of banning or recalling anything and everything that might be dangerous when improperly used, why don’t we use some common sense?  Take precautions.  If you have young children, childproof your house.  Put the Windex and dish detergent above the fridge instead of under the sink.  Don’t put pillows in your infant’s crib.  Don’t leave babies or toddlers alone in the bathtub-ever. And for heck’s sake- tie up the blind cords so that your kid doesn’t accidentally hang himself.