Spanking Kids A Criminal Offense

[las47032]

Democrats on a legislative committee in California have advanced a plan that would make criminals of any parent who uses "a stick, a rod, [or] a switch" to discipline their misbehaving child, and parents rights' organizations are up in arms.

"This was a bad day for parental rights in California," said Karen England, of Capitol Resource Institute.
"Arrogant California legislators have decided … they know how to raise children better than parents. However, we are confident that California parents will make their voice heard and defeat these despicable bills," she said.


The proposal is AB755, a plan by California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, that is billed as a plan for "corporal punishment."
But it does more.

"AB755 biases police officers, social workers, district attorneys and juries to regard traditional methods of child discipline as hateful, harmful abuse," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families.

"This irresponsible committee has passed a very irresponsible bill. Since juries already have broad authority to convict and sentence child abusers, AB755 is unnecessary. The real purpose of the bill is to transform good parents who use traditional methods of discipline into suspected child abusers in the eyes of the law," Thomasson said.

According to the bill, a parent who spanks their child will be placed on probation for four years, forced to attend a "nonviolent parental education class" and be the subject of a criminal court protective order "protecting the victim from further acts of violence."

Among those testifying before the Assembly's Public Safety Committee against the plan were constitutional attorney David Llewellynof Sacramento, Thomasson and others.

As amended by the committee, the penalties for parents who even use a bedroom slipper to swat an unruly child would be subject to being reported and prosecuted on the word of any police officer or social worker, counselor or member of the clergy, opponents said.

"The inclusion of a 'nonviolent parental education class' reveals that AB755 continues to target loving parents who spank with a switch, paddle, a stick, or other traditional child-rearing methods," according to a statement from opponents. "Existing law already allows judges to order convicted child abusers into 'a child abuser's treatment counseling program.' There is no reason for a 'nonviolent parental education class.'"

Speaking against and voting "no" on AB755 were Republicans Greg Aghazarian of Stockton and Joel Anderson of El Cajon. Voting "yes" on AB755 were Democrats Jose Solorio of Santa Ana, Hector De La Torre of Southgate, Fiona Ma of San Francisco and Mark Leno of San Francisco.

"Parents and grandparents are calling upon Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto AB755 if it reaches his desk," said Thomasson. "Because this bill biases authorities against parents who spank, AB755 continues to view good parents who lovingly correct their children as suspected child abusers."

"Parents often use a wooden spoon or ruler to spank their children. This legislation actually bans the use of 'a stick, a rod, a switch, a belt' – tools often used by responsible parents in spanking disobedient children," England has said on the issue. "As a parent, I am angered that the government is declaring my disobedient child 'a victim' and intervening in the raising of my children."

The original Lieber plan created "a 'rebuttable presumption' that when parents discipline their children, they are abusers," said Meredith Turney, CRI's legislative liaison. While that has been modified, the plan still should be unacceptable to Californians, she said.

"Discipline is used to protect children from disobedient behavior that could harm them. It is appalling that the government is treating parents like criminals when there are dangerous sexual predators on our streets," she said.

As WND reported earlier, officials with the Campaign for Children and Families described Lieber's bill as a specific attack on parental authority, providing an outright ban on spanking with a utensil such as a spoon, and leaving it up to judges to decide if spanking with an open hand is legal or not.

Thomasson said it's clear that child abuse needs to be prevented. But it should be handled separately. "Legitimate child abuse provisions in this bill, such as 'vigorous shaking of a child under the age of three,' deserve to be in another bill and completely separated from spanking," his group said earlier.

The proposal already has been dissected in the media. Before its introduction, the Contra Costa Times said the bill, "is completely unenforceable. Are we to expect a 2-year-old to dial 911 and report a parent for swatting him or her on the behind?"

The editorial took a straightforward shot at the issue.

"With all of the pressing problems facing our state, what issue has the knickers of our esteemed lawmakers in such a twist? What burning concern has the ponderous pundits on the cable news shows frothing at the mouth?

"Global warming? Plunging real estate values? Good-paying jobs being shipped off to India every time you turn around? Maybe the governor's new health care proposal?

"None of the above.

"The latest meaningless, national distraction, is a silly bill proposed by Assembly Pro Tem Speaker Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, that would make it a crime to spank any child 3 years old or younger."
The editorial's suggestion? "Get real."

Source: WorldNetDaily: Parents who spank being made <I>criminals</I>

[leobold1]

If the state wants to raise my child, fine. But, they're gonna have to do the entire job, from birth to the end of college.

We're already getting the conception part now.

[Chrisj]

We have a law in the UK where parents are allowed to give their children a light tap but any blow which leaves a visible mark , even a temporary reddening mark can lead to prosecution. We have a generation of children who know their rights and now adults are practically powerless to keep these children under control. Teacher who are expected to take on all the responsibilities of a parent are in the position where they can not discipline children, if you give them extra work they can refuse to do it, they can not have detention without parental consent, all that seems to be allowable is to send them to a cooling off room with a Tv, drinks and biscuits. Assault on teachers and other pupils is now quite common, spurious allegations against teachers are pursued with vigour by the authorities and this can lead to loss of their career even if the allegations were unfounded.

The state now interferes in so many of the aspects of every day life, from raising your children ,their diet, how they are allowed to play in schools. Your lifestyle is questioned when it comes to the medical treatment you have paid your national insurance for, it is illegal to follow religious beliefs when it comes to gay marriage or adoption. We are watched on the street by CCTV as we go about our daily and legitimate business, our financial transactions are tracked through credit , debit and loyalty cards. Big brother would have been proud of the nation we have created.

[Snowden]

It's hard to imagine living like that. Once people could go to a country where there was freedom, but there won't be anywhere to go. People managing what other people do to the extent you describe, are designing a slave state and worse.

[conlor]

I guess I'm a dem when it comes to this. I am totally and completely against spanking. I raised my daughter without spanking and have seen other people who were raised that way and they turned out just fine. And I've seen kids who are yelled (screamed) at and whacked, slapped, hit, who are afraid of other people or rebel and act agressive.

Anyway, it's not fun getting hit.

Teachers manage to teach and even have kids love them, without hitting/spanking. It CAN be done!

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by leobold1

If the state wants to raise my child, fine. But, they're gonna have to do the entire job, from birth to the end of college.

A friend on mine ran into a high school counselor who called him out about how he raised one of his sons. He had four kids, three were fine and no trouble, but one (called W) was rebellious and into everything. He told the counselor that Bill was mean to him.

Bill settled by going home and packing his son's clothes and he went back to the school and dumped the suitcases in the counselor's office. He told her that she would now be responsible for raising his son, starting immediately.

This drug on for almost a week because Bill refused to take him back. It wound up with W back home, and the counselor backing out of Bill's business and W being more careful about lying.