I just came across an article talking about a GPS tracking device that is available that could make things a lot easier to keep track of your child when they leave your sight. The device can be put in the child’s backpack or their lunchbox or even in their pockets. The device is a computerized mapping system that allows parents to check on their children’s whereabouts in real time via a computer or smartphone.
The question here is that some think that the Insignia Little Buddy Child Tracker is another excuse for some over protective parents to stalk their children.
I think in this day and time one can’t be protective enough with the way the laws are and with the number of children missing in our country not to mention the world. According to the orlandosentinel.com Florida alone had 62,000 missing person reports in 2007. And they say as of July, the state had 51,560 registered sex offenders. And if that isn’t scary enough they state that Florida isn’t the highest in numbers. They rank third in the nation with California and Texas ahead of them for reported missing persons (which are mostly children), registered sex offenders and the number of “stereotypical kidnappings†the most serious kind of stranger abductions.
After reading more on these statistics I am seriously considering buying three of these devices for my three grandsons. My thoughts are that I would rather be safe than sorry. You can get one of these devices from Best Buy (who owns the Insignia brand) and follow the directions on how to get it activated and you are on your way.
I know some kids will be offended by being tracked but if you sit them down and read all the stories about other kids like Caylee Anthony, Adji Desir, Haleigh Cummings, Somer Thompson, Elizabeth Olten, Masaraha Ross and so many others, to them maybe they would understand you are not trying to invade their privacy, you are only doing it to protect them, to keep what happened to these other children from happening to them. We always think that only happens to other people. We never think it will happen to us. Ask any of the family members of these children, I bet they all thought this at one time themselves. I also bet that if they had a way to turn back the clock they would have been interested in something like this device if it could have eventually saved their child’s life.
I see this as a possible step forward or at least an attempt to protect our children more. Until the laws are changed to stop protecting the guilty and start protecting the innocent we have to try everything we can to keep the future of our world safe which are our precious children. If we can’t keep them safe who will?
I pray for these children every day and every night. I pray that the ones out there still lost come home safe soon and those that have been taken from this earth get the justice that they so rightly deserve so they may rest in peace. God gave us the gift of these children to love them not to hurt them. They need to be cherished. Remember they are the innocent ones here. God bless them all!
Jan Barrett
As a favor to our readers I am posting these web sites:
Stop the abuse and murder of the children in the U.S.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/16/stop-the-abuse-and-murder-of-the-children-in-the-us
10 users commented in " GPS Tracking Device for Your Children Is This a Good Idea or Not? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackIMO, Something is gona have to be done and i feel this is a start. My vote is YES.
The gps tag could prove to be of great benefit in locating a lost backpack or lunch box but it may not be as useful in finding the child. A child abductor could just as easily smash the device or throw it in a pond or flush it down a toilet. An even more devious criminal will just drop the device into someone’s open car or truck and throw the police off his trail while they engage in a dead-end pursuit.
I don’t blame folks for trying to protect their children any way possible but I don’t really think this device will make a lot of difference. Once it becomes popular, It will be the first thing an abductor looks for when he/she grabs the child.
I agree with Scarypoet, they could easily toss the device out and do their deed. Its a comforting thought, but when rationalized it really isnt as solid as it sounds.
I agree its too easy to toss the gps. I have chip in my dog so i can find him why not in our kids we have lojack on our cars why cant we implant somthing into our children at birth I know that sound a little fat fetched and way crazy but but why can i find my dog and not my child…
there has to be a safe way to keep track of our children
I have been ‘developing’ a theory about this for some time. I’m not a conspiracy buff, but there is a madness and, quite frankly an evil, that prevents our legislators from enacting severe penalties for pedophiles and violent sex offenders. For the life of me, with their own children at risk of abduction and possible death, how can our elected officials continue to ignore this epidemic of violence?
There may be one answer. The same kind of implanted microchip that many of us have for our pets could be modified so that it is possible for it to be activated as a GPS system in ‘case of an emergency’. IMO, this is where we are headed. This obviously raises a whole new set of concerns and more importantly, it does not reduce the actual risk. And that’s where we should be focusing our energies.
I always hear complaints about how unfair the sex offender registry is because of how every category is lumped together. Why hasn’t this simply been addressed and changed? And why are pedophiles ROUTINELY released from prison with little to no supervision?
Let’s face some truth here: the govt. can’t generate income from housing pedophiles and sex offenders and the American public is up to its’ eyeballs in tax burdens. But, the govt. CAN generate income from a brand new industry that serves a variety of purposes for them…namely, the tracking of American citizens from womb to tomb.
It is not cynical to view the abject failure of our govt. to protect our children from pedophiles. There are many wonderful people working in law enforcement, but they are too often hamstrung by lack of resources, lack of information coordination and a general malaise from our lawmakers. IMO, people who harm our children forfeit any and all rights to freedom. Period. There is sufficient overwhelming evidence that pedophiles can not be rehabilitated. Either we join forces in a national united front and demand immediate action from our legislators or we will continue to suffer these crimes against children.
I have also heard about these GPS devices being in children’s watches and available for about $60. I think manufacturers need to use caution in not making these items all look the same. They need a variety of items they can be hidden in, jewelry, frienship bracelets, hair pins, hair scrunchies, pins on clothing, inside shoes, etc. The same goes for any implantable device like tags that go into dog’s ears with ID data so that preditors will not start cutting children to remove them. The wearable GPS devices need to look “cool” to motivate kids to wear them. I think it is a great idea. Eventually they will be able to reduce the size of these things to perhaps put in stud earrings, finger rings, etc., or hidden under the hair in a small clip.
Thanks, Jan for addressing this important information. It’s important we focus on being proactive.
Yes, it is good, but not enough. There are kids that get grabbed even with something like this. In all reality it only works if the child has it on them. I’m starting to wonder if they will insert a chip in our kids when they are born,ha,.. but not ha!
Great article and wonderful suggestion. Even though it is not a guarantee it is sure an improvement. If it saved just one, it would be worth it. I think the shoe would be a better choice than the back pack. But even if the pervert throws the back pack away, it might still be a huge asset in providing his dna. One thing is positive it is a relatively cheap investment to give it a try.
There are a few issues here to touch base on. First, the dog tags are “RFID chips” not trackers. They will not help find your pet, only identify the pet and owners once it is found. GPS tracking devices, though getting smaller, will never be as small as a RFID chip, because trackers need a cellular modem for 2-way communication. Secondly, when considering the purchase of a tracking device, do your homework because not all GPS systems are alike. Aside from features such as Geofencing, speed-alerts and so on, the one thing you really need to look into is the COST. Most GPS devices I’ve looked into have HIDDEN costs such as monthly/annual renewal fees or charge you per track ontop of the purchase price.
I ended up buying a system called “The GPS Guadian” at http://www.thegpsguardian.com . Not only did I get the device for FREE by purchasing 3 years of service up front, but I got the 4th and 5th year of service for FREE as well.
is it easy to every one to operate this kind of GPS system
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