2/24 Update: Yesterday San Francisco Bay area Assemblywoman Sally Lieber abandoned her heavily ridiculed campaign to make spanking a crime, acknowledging that the idea would get whacked even in California's sometimes whimsical Legislature. Read more here.
Calif. lawmaker seeks ban on spanking
Associated Press
1/20 SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California parents could face jail and a fine for spanking their young children under legislation a state lawmaker has promised to introduce next week. Democratic Assemblywoman Sally Lieber said such a law is needed because spanking victimizes helpless children and breeds violence in society.
"I think it's pretty hard to argue you need to beat a child," Lieber said. "Is it OK to whip a 1-year-old or a 6-month-old or a newborn?" Lieber said her proposal would make spanking, hitting and slapping a child under 4 years old a misdemeanor. Adults could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Aides to the assemblywoman said they are still working on a definition for spanking. Read more here.
Any opinions on this one?
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This scares the heck out of me - the government is legislating how we discipline our kids? If someone abuses their kid (and slapping a baby or young child is abuse!!!) they need to be put in jail...but SPANKING is not abuse if done in the right way for the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not I only had to spank my son ONE TIME because from that point on he knew his mom meant business so a threat of a spanking usually stopped the negative behavior.
Absurd.
ReplyDeleteand another freedom bites the dust...
ReplyDeleteI find it hillarious that Ms. Lieber has no children of her own. Some how I think this would change her view on this subject.
ReplyDeleteI'm with bar bar a, this scares me a lot.
Lieber has argued that you shouldn't 'strike' a toddler because they don't have the vocabulary to understand why they are being 'hit'. Her choice of words says all you need to know.
Clearly she must not have grown up with dogs either. Last time I checked, I don't beleive a dog has much of a vocabulary either, but I can potty-train them.
We have ruled for child-abuse and these rules need to be enforced and loop-holes reduced, but this law is absolutely ridiculous.
Let's see: go with a)God's view or b)Lieber's law? Hmmm I think I'm going with door A here KB!
God Bless
Doug