Updated: May 6, 1999

Recently, in a Las Vegas casino, a 7-year-old child was assaulted and then murdered in a public restroom. The perpetrator's friend left the restroom as the assault was taking place yet did nothing to assist the victim. In New Jersey, a 31-year-old woman was beaten with a baseball bat while the perpetrators' three friends watched from a nearby car.

Six states have "Good Samaritan" laws, South Dakota, West Virginia, Vermont, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Nevada and New Jersey do not; the witnesses to the above crimes could not be charged.

HB 34 makes it a Class A misdemeanor to not report a completed or attempted murder, kidnapping, or sexual penetration of a child. This also includes assaults that cause serious physical injury. Of course, we all hope that all citizens would immediately go to the aid of that child. However, some citizens are intimidated by violence and might be afraid of retribution. HB 34 would set the minimum standard of reporting the crime-in-progress to public safety officials who would then be able to come to that child's aid.

The law does many things in our culture, not the least of which is the function of stating and defining our cultural values and standards. I do not expect this proposed law to be used often, but it will send the message that it is not acceptable to stand by and do nothing when a child is being beaten, raped, or killed. A few well-publicized prosecutions of flagrant violators who refuse to help a child will have a salutary affect in our culture.