Article from Daily Wire by Emily Zanotti.
Utah has become the first state legislature to “legalize” something that should be a natural part of childhood: playing outside without constant adult supervision.
The law, called the “Free Range Kids Bill,” makes it clear that parents in Utah can allow their children to play outside in nearby parks, ride their bikes, and even walk a couple of blocks by themselves, without being charged with child neglect, according to USA Today.
It may sound insane — after all, why on Earth would a state have to legalize children playing outside with other children, riding their bikes in the neighborhood or walking a few blocks to the store? But it turns out, it’s a law that was desperately needed, as Utah parents have seen the number of calls to law enforcement to report their neglectful behavior soar in recent years.
USA Today cites a handful of examples, but there are plenty available. Parents in Utah, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, and elsewhere have all felt the wrath of local busybodies, and found themselves on the wrong side of the law for things like giving their own kids permission to play at local playgrounds.
Read the entire article at the Daily Wire.
Image Credit:Â By An Errant Knight (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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All I can say UTAH is smart move. I ask the state government members if they could play outside without
parental supervision at all times when they were kids
Utah is not big on communist control of the State. Good for Them; California could learn and perhaps reject the status of a “sanctuary state” where the streets are unsafe due to fees and needles.
This is the first time I have seen anything like this law. I have no memory of ever saying anything to or about UTAH’s laws or government.
those crazy Mormons did it again :/
Utah, will you let me make a statement??
I have a son living in your state. I’m going to ask him just what type of government Utah has. I sure hope it’s nothing like Califonias.
About time a legislative body did something that makes sense. maybe there is hope for America after all. Yea., Utah!
After school we would be all over the area on Staten Island NY and would go home when the street lights came on or someones Dad would whistle loudly for his son.
I would walk a mile to church on Sundays over two very busy streets.
Good for you Utah
I haven’t read this specific law, but on the surface it seems like a great thing to do given some people’s over-zealous tendency to call police on families who allow their children freedom to play outside, etc. Kudos to Utah.