There seems to be a growing trend in the news.

In Bentonville, Ark., two little girls, ages 4-months and 16-months, “cooked to death” in a car. They were left strapped in their car seats with the windows rolled up for eight hours as the two men who were watching them went to hunt for mushrooms and arrowheads. One of the men was the father of the 16-month-old.

What were these two men thinking? In the first place, two little children should not be left alone for any long period of time, let alone eight hours.

But to leave the windows rolled up and no way for the two to escape is inhuman. Most people treat their dogs better.

Unfortunately, child cruelty is not a novelty as of late. In St. Charles, Miss., a doctor was arrested for injecting his own son with the HIV virus. The alleged intent of this heinous act was to kill the boy so he would no longer have to pay child support.

Whether the case be neglect or malice, there is something terribly wrong with these people.

How can someone be so cruel? These were their children. Either they forgot or never understood the amount of responsibility that goes along with having a baby. The job does not end when the child gets past a certain age or a marriage ends in divorce.

Too many parents don’t understand the responsibility involved in raising their child. If you think this is an overstatement, just read the news.

Jonesboro, Ark. … two kids arrested in shooting. Pittsburgh, Penn. … 14-year-old “Satan” boy kills teacher. Unfortunately, the list continues.

It is a sad case that seems to be unfolding right before our eyes. What is the solution? Does there need to be a license to bear children?

Citizens need to have a license to drive, and they’re only operating a vehicle. These are human beings we’re dealing with. From what we’ve seen, some people are not capable of raising a kid.

The fact is, there is no easy solution to this problem. Until all parents are willing to step up and accept the responsibility they took on when they brought a child into this world, nothing will change. And we will continue to read sad stories like these in the news.

But as for the fathers in these cases, punish them to the highest measure for their cruel crimes. They were responsible for lives.

It’s a shame that only now do they realize it.