| There were 62,000 missing persons reported in Florida | | | | much easier. If a child can be found as soon as |
| in 2007, most of which were children. Figures like these | | | | possible, the most unthinkable horror on the planet-the |
| are enough to make a solid decision on GPS tracking | | | | loss of a child-can be averted. |
| children. | | | | What is the downside? A parent always knows |
| As bad as it is in Florida, California and Texas are | | | | where a child is, and to some pre-teens and teens, this |
| worse, topping the list for missing children and | | | | is unbearable. But tracking children with GPS cannot be |
| registered offenders. Parents all over are debating the | | | | argued on the merits of invasion of privacy, not when |
| merits of GPS tracking children as over against their | | | | children are so ill equipped to defend themselves. A |
| child's rights to a certain amount of privacy. | | | | parent cannot always be with their children. Knowing |
| It amounts to stalking, in a way, for GPS to track | | | | where they are at all times is not only safer for the |
| children to be effective. A child must be carrying, at all | | | | children, but reassuring for the parents. |
| times, in some fashion, a GPS location unit. Parents are | | | | Another downside is cost. Units to track children are |
| then able to use a computer or smart phone to find | | | | expensive. A price of $150 for an individual unit is on |
| the location of the child. As a child gets older, they will | | | | the lower end, with costs getting much higher for |
| likely begin to chafe under the constant surveillance, | | | | specialized units. And that is just for the units, itself. |
| but a firm explanation of the necessity of tracking | | | | Some GPS units for tracking children have monthly or |
| children with GPS should be enough to help the child | | | | annual fees attached to them. Some even charge per |
| understand, if not completely agree. | | | | tracking session. So always do serious research when |
| In many search cases for lost children, with a device | | | | considering the purchase of a system for GPS |
| that uses GPS, tracking children would have been so | | | | tracking children. |