Does Breastfeeding Law Need Penalties?

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Posted: 5:11 PM Aug 8, 2008
Last Updated: 5:11 PM Aug 8, 2008
Reporter: Tamara Evans
Email Address: tamara.evans@wkyt.com

34 comments

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A Richmond woman who says she was disturbed while breastfeeding at a fast food restaurant says she is hoping the incident will encourage more businesses to pay attention to the state law.

Jessica Denny tells 27 News First a manager at a Berea McDonald's asked her to cover up while she was breastfeeding and asked her to leave.

Police then asked her to leave the property, because McDonald's had asked her to leave,which made it a trespassing issue.

Since then the McDonald's has issued an apology.

Kentucky law says you are not allowed to disturb someone while breastfeeding.

Senator Tom Buford of Nicholasville, who pushed for the law, says it may need an update.

"If we have to, if we need to put penalties in the law, that will be a subject of the 2008 General Assembly. I know some women in the General Assembly feel strongly about this and I'd be glad to carry the bill or if they'd like to...either way", says Senator Tom Buford.

Jessica Denny tells us she hasn't filed a lawsuit at this time because her main goal is to get people to understand Kentucky's law and become comfortable with breastfeeding.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: what?! Location: corbin ky on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:57 PM
why in the WORLD are people so concerned that some small sliver of this woman's breast may show?! look at all the cleavage exposed by young women every day in a SEXUALLY suggestive way...I don't see any men/women throwing them out! a breast has a function--to FEED a child. I breastfed all three of my children--wherever they were hungry adn not once did I "expose" myself in any way that can compare with someof teh sleazy clothing I have seen many women wear! get a clue KY! breastfeeding can be a huge boost for your baby's health and happiness! (not to mention the financial benefit considering the current economy) there is nothing trashy, sleazy, or sexual about breastfeeding...its not like she was topless with the baby hanging off of her ;-D

Posted by: chasity Location: corbin on Aug 11, 2008 at 09:51 PM
we NEED penalties in place! how will you enforce a mother's right if there is NO penalty when its violated?!

Posted by: Ida on Aug 11, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Doesn't the Richmond Police Dept keep their officers updated on changes in the laws? This law has been on the books for about a year. The police chief needs to get his act together.

Posted by: Hey Location: are you reading this? on Aug 11, 2008 at 05:03 PM
The majority of people on this board, INCLUDING mothers who do or have breastfed, do not agree with doing it in public without covering up. Get a CLUE lawmakers!! Everyone else has rights too, not just certain groups of people!

Posted by: Bob Location: Stanford on Aug 11, 2008 at 04:35 PM
I don't have to be covered up when eating at MickyD's. Why should the baby? Come on, folks. Get your minds out of the gutter.

Posted by: New Lex Girl Location: Lexington on Aug 11, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Virtually all the medical research says the same thing -- breastfeeding is absolutely the best nutrition for a growing baby. Why can't we be happy that mothers are making the best choice for their babies instead of selfishly freaking out that we might see something "inappropriate"? If breastfeeding offends you, don't look -- this isn't about you, it's about the babies, and the breast is best for them.

Posted by: mel Location: lex on Aug 11, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Maybe this young mother who was denied her rights and the young woman asked to leave the Richmond Mall because of her way too short dress should get together and figure out a way to make some money for their troubles. Or is that the point, push until you can sue?

Posted by: Kelly Location: KY on Aug 11, 2008 at 10:21 AM
If your baby is hungry and you breastfeed, by all means, feed the child. BUT please use some kind of thin blanket or cloth, even a McDonald's napkin would work, to cover from your shoulder to the baby's neck. Be discreet about it and there won't be any problems.

Posted by: KentuckyGuy Location: Bluegrass on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Del of Stanton, there is nothing sexual about urinating in public..it's just in our mind.

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:53 AM
More of the exhibitionist that needs attention. These ADD "mothers" need to have their MTV moments.

Posted by: Chris Location: Lex on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:40 AM
It is a natural thing.......but I don't care to see it in a restuarant when I am paying for something to eat. If you have "Rights" then I want to know why your "Rights" carry more weight than mine. Seems to me that most of these women are in it for a shot at a monetary settlement. Maybe new mothers should carry a bottle for the child in case they get hungry out in public........is that too much to ask?

Posted by: Jeb Location: Ky on Aug 11, 2008 at 08:13 AM
I think the Breast Feeding Law needs more teeth to it but then again, I probably shouldn't be using the word "teeth" while talking about breast feeding.

Posted by: kymom Location: lex on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I breastfed all 3 of my babies and never had an issue. The issue isn't about breastfeeding in public or not. It's about these so called "proud moms" who want to flaunt it! It makes me sick! The baby doesn't care if you have a cover over you or not as long as he's getting his milk! The moms are the ones making the big deal out of it! At least be classy about it! There's absolutely no reason to have to flaunt yourself or expose yourself when nursing your baby! I've done it myself PLENTY of times to know this for a fact! You are just trying to make a scene to draw attention to yourselves! You just don't want to cover up because of your own selfish reasons!

Posted by: green on Aug 10, 2008 at 08:38 PM
If the baby is hungry you've got to feed him/her. However, it won't hurt the mother or the child to use a blanket or some type of covering. Its natural, its good for the baby, but others don't need to experience it with you.

Posted by: AC Location: Corbin on Aug 10, 2008 at 05:47 PM
there's nothing at all wrong with discretely breastfeeding in public and i'm appalled at some of the ignorant comments on this board that insinuate otherwise. i personally am much more offended by the sight of a woman bottle-feeding her baby with formula inasmuch as there are NO benefits to using formula and it's unfair to the defenseless infant to provide it with such an inferior form of nutrition and sustainance. that's what we as a society should be complaining about.

Posted by: Judy Location: Pineville on Aug 10, 2008 at 05:21 PM
There is a respectable way to breast feed in public. At least cover yourself other than just bare it all and call attention to yourself......

Posted by: DEL Location: SOMERST on Aug 10, 2008 at 01:51 PM
people are so sexually minded these days. I am a young mother who breast feed my son for a year. i believe God made us the way he did to give our babies our own milk and that means any where when they get hungry, if that is in public so be it. the only people that usually has a problem with it is younger people because the to the older generation this was the only way babies were feed. if people are going to fuss about feeding a baby in public this should include bottle feeding run to the car or go to closed doors to feed them also.

Posted by: Joe Location: Stanton on Aug 10, 2008 at 01:51 PM
The only thing dirty about a woman breastfeeding in public is the persons mind that is complaining about it. There is nothing sexual about it. If you don't like seeing it just don't look. All you have to do is turn your head in another direction. If a woman loves and repects her baby enough to breatfeed you need to respect her and leave her in peace. Its only as dirty as the person looking makes it.It wasn't like she was licking her own nipples trying to get attention. Yeah bowel movements are natural too but,if you go in a public restroom and don't like the smell coming from the next stall over you leave. You don't make the leave because you can't stand the smell. Don't make children think they are being molested by their own mother by feeding them. If your child asks what she is doing explain to them what she is doing. If McDonalds don't want people eating they shouldn't be selling food. With all the deadbeat mothers we have out here we need to show loving mothers respect!

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Aug 10, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Mmmmm....

Posted by: MichaeL Location: Berea, KY on Aug 10, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Well sounds like the law need to learn the law a little moe better themselves and go read the UPDATED books again

Posted by: Denise Location: Berea on Aug 9, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Breastfeeding is beautifully thing, anybody who thinks is sexually is very disturbed. I breastfeed my son anywhere I took him, the mall, restaurants anywhere. Any people who says they should go to the bathroom, let me ask you would you take your food to the bathroom? Breastfeeding is the most naturally thing there is, something thats should not be ashamed of.

Posted by: What is so wrong with it Location: Kentucky on Aug 9, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I think that it was so wrong of the manager to kick this lady out for feedingher baby. For one ,it is natural, and the best thing for a baby.And besides that , it is against the law to say something by what I have read. It is not like she was up on the table dancing with her top off ,but I guess had she been , there would not be anything said about that. She was feeding her baby, she was not there to show the world , or the customers in this case , her breasts.I see nothing wrong with it , and while the manager has said I am sorry, I think that they should get on camera and say they were wrong , along with the cop who came to the business and turned this into a bigger thing then it was. The baby was hungry for crying out loud , and the mother done her thing as a mother by feeding it, had she not feed the baby ,I am sure someone would have been calling social services on her for starving the baby. This whole thing is just crazy... To the mother who was breastfeeding, YOU are in the right

Posted by: ls Location: KY on Aug 8, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I think there is a way to breast feed in a way that makes everyone comfortable. If you don't want to place a cover over yourself, go some place where everyone can't see you. I think that some people just want to show themselves. I am all for breast feeding. But please, show some respect for others, too. Cover yourself or go where you won't embarass others.

Posted by: Q Bee Location: LeXiNgToN on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:35 PM
No it doesnt. if these white trash baby mommas didnt do this, this would not happen. get a life white girlz~!

Posted by: j Location: knott on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Why dont people go someplace private to feed. I dont want my wife doing it in public.

Posted by: FYI Location: London on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:20 PM
I am a mother and yes I did breastfeed my child. But, I would never breastfeed in public. If you're going to then be respectable and don't show everything you've got. There's enough disrespectful things for kids to see these days. Don't make breastfeeding one of them!

Posted by: Lou Lou Location: Kentucky on Aug 8, 2008 at 08:35 PM
The way most women and young girls dress these days - it suprises me that someone would have a problem with a mother breastfeeding. I breast fed. I wasn't always comfortable doing it in public and chose not to. It wouldn't be such a big deal if so many women hadn't got a way from doing it. It would be just as natural as it was in the early-mid 1900's. Besides most places don't accomodate and provide a clean, comfortable environment to nurse in. Very few.

Posted by: What R U thinking Location: Eastern KY on Aug 8, 2008 at 07:38 PM
I am a woman, I do agree that breastfeeding is good for babies BUT I DO NOT favor breastfeeding in public places. It is natural but so are bowel movements and I do not want to be out in the wide open viewing that.

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