who else agrees that the vegan couple did not deserve to go to jail?

Question

it's not fair, they cared for that child as best they could, it's not fair, my prayers are with them , the prosecuters said it was cruelty to child , which is bull, they tried to feed the baby the best a veagan diet can get you and the prosecuters should think about the real cruelty animals , which is why the parents are veagans, they care for animals, and it's not right they are in jail

it's not fair to do cruelty to animals and yet thoushands of people are cruel to them and dont get jail time, the parents tried to feed their baby as best they could and they get jail time? i hate the american law system

Answer 1

With respect, I do believe they deserved to go to prison, although life sentences seem excessive.

Keep in mind that:

1. The mother did not breastfeed. Sorry, but we are mammals, and mammal mothers feed their young by breast milk. If they did not want to go that route, there are artificial formulas they could have used.

2. They did not consult anyone. A Pediatrician would have helped with feeding the baby under vegan guidelines, at least would have told them not to feed the baby apple juice yet. A doctor would have been able to tell them that the baby was become malnourished.

This should not become a matter of persecuted vegan, it is a matter of good parenting. Loving a baby is not enough, you have to do the right things as well. They did not and are paying a steep (and remember, I think life is too harsh) price.

Answer 2

This baby was not killed by a vegan diet; this baby was killed by murders. Even the judge knows they used veganism as a scapegoat to get out of going to jail.

These parents thought they could get away with it because they know that most meat eaters (and therefore most of the general public) are completely ignorant when it comes to veganism, and that said public, (without any research whatsoever) will believe that veganism is terrible and kills people.

Would a meat-eater feed a baby nothing but apple juice and cow's milk? Of course not, because it is understood that cow's milk is not a substitute for a balanced diet. All vegans know quite well that soy milk is a substitute for cow milk, not formula. And if they ever were not sure, they could read the big label on each container of soy milk that specifically states that it is not to be used as a formula for infants. And these "vegan" parents knew that quite well when they murdered their baby.

I am putting vegan in parentheses because just as someone would not be a vegan if they intentionally killed a cow, someone is not vegan if they intentionally kill their baby. Vegans believe in life and the right to life for all, not death.

At least the judge was educated enough to see beyond their ridiculous excuse. Apparently he understands that there are tons of people all over the world who were raised vegan since birth.

Answer 3

No, Those parents were idiots. They deserve what they got.

Like I said In another Question, If you were to look at a soy milk container... You would see that it says right on the side in bold print, "NOT TO BE USED AS AN INFANT FORMULA"... You're telling me that they have never seen that warning?... also, who in their right mind would think that apple juice and soy milk is a good diet, for anyone...let alone an infant!

If they did their research...like any responsible parent should do (vegan or not)... they would have known that what they were feeding their child was not healthy... They DID NOTdo the best that they could, they murdered that child.
Honestly I don't even consider what they were feeding that kid "vegan"... It was fruit juice and soy milk.... come on now...

Btw: I am a vegan... And that story just makes more people think that vegan diet is unhealthy... when It is not.

Answer 4

Is this the couple you mean?:

<
Atlanta - A vegan couple were sentenced today to life in prison for the death of their malnourished 6-week-old baby boy, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soy milk and apple juice.

Superior Court Judge L.A. McConnell imposed the mandatory sentences on Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31. Their son, Crown Shakur, weighed just 3 1/2 pounds when he died of starvation on April 25, 2004.

The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts.

Defense lawyers said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died.

But prosecutors said the couple intentionally neglected their child and refused to take him to the doctor even as the baby's body wasted away.

"No matter how many times they want to say, 'We're vegans, we're vegetarians,' that's not the issue in this case," said prosecutor Chuck Boring. "The child died because he was not fed.

Period." Although the life sentences were automatic, Sanders and Thomas begged for leniency before sentencing. Sanders urged the judge to look past his "perception" of the couple.

"I loved my son - and I did not starve him," she said.

When the judge told the defendants they could ask for a new trial, Thomas hung his head low.

"I'm dying every day in there," he said, "and that could take three years.">>

If this is the couple you mean, I say they deserve what they got, and they should be sterilized too just for good measure.

They were neglectful through their willful ignorance by refusing to educate themselves on the proper care of a child. Claiming they didn't know is the worst excuse ever, especially in this day and age when information is just a click away.

Answer 5

This case has nothing to do with vegans or vegetarians.

It has to do with negligence, and THAT is what they were negligent parents. If they had "tried" to feed thier baby the best vegan diet they could as you have quoted the child wouldn't have perished.

I understand that tons of people get away with animal negligence every day and that is horrible, and people should pay for cruelty to animals...but to bring that up in comparison of a little helpless baby who's parents starved it is preposterous.

you my dear are what is wrong with people in this world and I prey for you come to see the wrong in your comments

Answer 6

You have got to be kidding! Or one of the most crass and ignorant people on Earth if you really believe that parents that starve a 6 week old infant to death do not deserve to be sent to prison for the death they caused.

These people are just as guilty of killing that kid as someone that stabs a baby with a knife or drowns it in a lake. Would you let people that did something like that off scot-free?

Answer 7

They were not feeding their infant a proper vegan diet; real vegans would have breastfed or given soy formula if breastfeeding wasn't working (hey, just like non-vegan parents!).

I don't think they should go to jail, but only because it seemed like they did it out of complete stupidity, not maliciousness. Some sort of mental care facility, parenting classes, therapy, etc. would be better to rehabilitate and educate them, and decide when, if ever, they have enough common sense to function properly with the rest of us.

Answer 8

To all ignorant posters above: the kid wasnt on a vegan diet, it was starving! Kids raised on vegan diet DONT starve; there are many vegan parents and kids all in perfect health. Much healthier than omnivores.

That couple used veganism as an excuse just because many idiots know nothing about it. They may as well have used religion and all morons would buy it instantly. Stop embarrassing yourself with stupid comments. It only shows how little you know. Why dont you educate yourselves and learn about veganism *before* you decide to make a comment?

Answer 9

If you are refering to the couple whos baby died, yes, they did deserve to go to jail. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a well balanced vegan diet, but you cant just feed a baby juice and call it vegan. There are many ways to get a good balance of protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. with whole grains, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables. There was no need to starve that baby. The thing that bothers me the most though, is that parents who raise their kids on junk food and processed crap are not prosecuted for it. Look how many kids are obese, sickly and unfit, yet no one does anything about it. There are many more unhealthy fat kids then there are starving vegan children. A responsible vegan would not have let this happen. I also find it quite ironic that one can go to jail for animal cruelty if they mistreat their dog, but its perfectly okay to slaughter a cow, chicken, pig, turkey or duck. Thats too stupid for words.

Answer 10

They are not going to jail because of their ideals, or because they love animals.
They are going to jail because they did not protect the human life that they created and were charged with guarding, they are going to jail because of there did not try to get help in taking care of their child they are going to jail, because their actions were a danger to another human, they are going to jail because of neglect. I question if they had not killed this child this way what other way would they have damaged him with the sever neglect.
If they had had an understanding of human nutrition and how to create a balanced diet they could have lived by their ideals, and raised a healthy child - they were stupid and withheld nutrition from the child, and didn't find alternative sources of protein. There were many sources of this information available to them. They were stupid and didn't recognize a seriously ill child, until it was to late the symptoms would have been there - they just didn't recognize them.
These people need to take responsibility for there actions. personally in addition to sending them to jail I would like to see them sterilized, so they don't have the chance to create another life for them to damage.