[Jennisee]

Please go vote! Last time I checked, 85% of respondants were in favor of spanking.

 

[honeybee]

Did anyone read the article about the CA law? I'm anti-spanking, but it seems to me that inflicting punishment (fine and jail) in order to prevent punishment is assinine. We don't need more laws, we need more education and supportive social services.

 

[peacelovingmama]

I voted. What a sad reflection on our culture.

I do support laws protecting children. I see it less as an issue of parental "rights" to hit than of a child's right to not be hit. But I think our law should at least start with non-penal consequences. It works in 19 other countries -- I don't understand how the law protects everyone except the most vulnerable from violence.

 

[Wugmama]

I hadn't heard about jail time as penalty, but am all for the law, for so many different reasons. One reason is that some parents have literally never heard that they should not hit their baby, and in fact think it is the responsible thing to do.

Also, it isn't inflicting punishment (jail time) to deter punishment per se, it is inflicting punishment for specifically assaulting a child. Just like when one assaults another adult they may go to jail.

~Tracy

 

[Fuamami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wugmama I hadn't heard about jail time as penalty, but am all for the law, for so many different reasons. One reason is that some parents have literally never heard that they should not hit their baby, and in fact think it is the responsible thing to do. Also, it isn't inflicting punishment (jail time) to deter punishment per se, it is inflicting punishment for specifically assaulting a child. Just like when one assaults another adult they may go to jail. ~Tracy

Not only that, the legislation, which I believe was unfortunately dropped, only mandated parenting classes for punishment, and that was only for kids under three.

I really wonder about this country's morality.

 

[the_lissa]

86% in favour?

I am shocked!

 

[peacelovingmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by natensarah Not only that, the legislation, which I believe was unfortunately dropped, only mandated parenting classes for punishment, and that was only for kids under three. I really wonder about this country's morality.

The law was dramatically revised. It now only prohibits things like hitting babies in the head and face, shaking and other patently abusive acts. I also find it shocking that so many Americans cling to their "right" to hit babies/small children.

As another poster wisely stated in another thread (sorry - don't remember who or I'd credit her!): either children have a right to live free from hitting or they don't. That is the issue. Not the "right" of an adult to hit a child. I don't believe any such right exists. I look forward for domestic violence laws to cover ALL members of the family. Just as it was once legal to hit one's wife, I hope the "right" to hit little ones one day disappears from our culture.

 

[Fuamami]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacelovingmama The law was dramatically revised. It now only prohibits things like hitting babies in the head and face, shaking and other patently abusive acts. I also find it shocking that so many Americans cling to their "right" to hit babies/small children.

Oh! I heard the congresswoman who sponsored it on NPR, and I thought she said she was dropping the whole bill. I agree, those are patently abusive acts, and I'm pretty sure that your children would be removed from the home if you were comitting them, at least here they would.

 

[peacelovingmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by natensarah Oh! I heard the congresswoman who sponsored it on NPR, and I thought she said she was dropping the whole bill. I agree, those are patently abusive acts, and I'm pretty sure that your children would be removed from the home if you were comitting them, at least here they would.

Oh - you could be right. I read about the revisions a while ago but maybe she's dropped the whole bill. Either way, sad.

:

 

[Jennisee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_lissa 86% in favour? I am shocked!

I live in a very conservative area, and I think 86% would be high for even here. I have a feeling that some pro-spanking websites may be circulating this poll as well. People can vote more than once, I believe, so they may be stuffing the ballot box, so to speak.

 

[MtBikeLover]

I just voted...but it is still 86% in favor. I am amazed that so many people think it is ok to hit kids.

 

[MtBikeLover]

I even added a post of my own! I can't believe what people are saying!

 

[peacelovingmama]

:

I knew I shouldn't have gone in to read comments. The one person saying that ideally, the father as opposed to the mother should hit the children.

: Another explaining that she hits her kids with a wooden spoon but that it is ridiculous that people confuse "spanking" and "hitting" because, after all, hitting (oops, I mean "spanking") with a wooden stick is NOT hitting. Good grief! Just like circumcising involves no "cutting" and CIO involves no "crying." I guess people will believe anything if it rationalizes what they want to do.

 

[Scrubsjm]

uke 85% think hitting is okay, that just makes me ill.

 

[Jennisee]

Bump.

 

[pookel]

According to scientific polls (i.e. not the ones on the internet where the respondents are self-selected), only about 50% of American parents spank, and only 67% think spanking is acceptable. I'm pretty sure poll results like these are skewed by pro-spanking websites mobilizing people to vote.

 

[Jade2561]

Unreal. I just cannot fathom how people can hit their children and think it's okay -even good. I surround myself with people who gentle discipline their children and when I step out of my bubble I am always so shocked and heart broken. 85%

:

 

[woobysma]

: That poll only proves that the majority of MSNBC readers are spankers.

 

[huskermommy]

voted

 

[GooeyRN]

voted. 85% thinks its ok to hit kids.