Then tell me where you would draw the line. Is there a time limit? A temperature? An age limit? Lets be real, people who do this are putting their children at risk. I have 2 kids, 10 and 12 years old, if they do not want to come into the store with me I let them stay in the car. They know that they are not to leave the car. They know not to let anyone into the car. Are they at risk? Sure they are. But they aren’t toddlers. Anyone who feels that it is ok to leave a 4 year old alone in a parking lot should seriously rethink things.
If they are your kids, you draw the line. If they aren’t your kids and the line you draw for some one else is nuts or the reaction of the state is nuts and you choose to get the state involved, you are morally liable for not minding your own business. As some one said earlier, if you are concerned, camp out and make sure no one runs off with the kids, and then vent at the parent if it makes you feel better.
“Then tell me where you would draw the line.”
I wouldn’t draw the line. I’m not the person best suited to make that judgement. That person would be the parent, who can assess each situation as needed.
“Lets be real, people who do this are putting their children at risk.”
Let’s be even more real. Everyone on the planet is always at some risk, 24 hours a day. You can’t escape risk.
“Are they at risk? Sure they are.”
So you’ve made a judgement call, as a parent, that this is a risk you are willing to accept. Yet, you deny to other parents the freedom to make their own judgements.