Distracted Driver Gets 9 Years In 22MO’s Death

Item: Girl’s family turns tragedy into purpose /Jody Lawrence-Turner, SR

More Info: A distracted, suspended driver killed 22-month-old Gabby Autry before she could make her mark on the world. Michael Q. Beckley’s guilty plea and prison sentence Monday allowed the little girl’s parents to talk about the legacy they plan to leave in her name. Gabby’s Place – a large room where families can gather at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital as they cope with the tragedy of a dying child – will be “her mark, her memorial,” said the girl’s mother, Belle Autry.

Question: Should individuals who hurt or kill children be given tougher sentences than usual?