Child left alone in car near Pennsylvania Ave store, Weirton WV

People are incredibly brazen to leave their small children in the car and walk away, naively believing nothing could happen during that “only a moment.” That moment often turns into 20 minutes, during which a child sits in the heat, vulnerable and exposed. Many people are oblivious to how fortunate they are to have a child—billions of others would do anything to be in their position. In my opinion, CPS should intervene whenever a child’s safety is compromised in this manner. Parents who leave their children alone should lose custody permanently—no second chances, no classes, no exceptions. Leaving a child unattended for any length of time is unacceptable. A child left alone for who knows how long is a serious neglect issue, and such a parent is unfit to care for their child. Immediate and strict action must be taken to protect innocent lives.