Posted on 01/20/2007 7:06:34 AM PST by mfnorman
(AP) 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.
Some Republican lawmakers called the idea ridiculous. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he may be receptive to it even though he has concerns about how the ban would be enforced.
The governor said he and his wife, Maria Shriver, did not spank their four children and used alternative methods for discipline. For example, Schwarzenegger said they found it more effective to threaten to take away their children's play time if they didn't do school work.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Schwarzenegger said they found it more effective to threaten to take away their children's play time if they didn't do school work.Geez ... thatt's NOT what whupin's were for ...
I can see this coming to all kinds of false allegations made by neighbors and schools. If you don't like someone, turn them in. Sounds a little like the works of Hitler.
They obviously are since they put up with so many undisciplined politicians in their society.
....just a smoke screen for just give me more money. (fines)
She goes from spank to beat to whip. I believe it is already illegal to beat and depending on how you define it, to whip also. A spanking for willful definance is the only way to really break the will of a small strong-willed child. You can't much reason with them. They understand a spanking, and when done in love it actually builds a better parent/child relationship. You discipline a child you love to make him better.
What a flaming €βƎð¥!!!
Virtually every story I saw in the news about this used stock video footage of mothers with infants. It was a typical media attempt at demonization of people who spank their children.
Like the anti gun group we had here in Michigan, "People who care about kids"
Spare the rod, spoil the child. What they need is a law to make parents care about their children and stop letting the streets raise them. Drugs have become the parents. Stop the parents from using drugs and the problem will be more than half solved. The kids follow what they know. Oh, do we have drug laws. ARE THEY ENFORCED? How about swatting the parents when their kids get in trouble. How about that? Or more than likely, parent.
I'm certainly not for hitting a child as young as in their first year but a two year old often needs a swat to get their attention. A law against it makes all parents abusers. That is absurd.
Yesterday's related thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770277/posts
CA: Governor receptive to no-spanking bill (They ain't YOUR kids, yaknow! All Hail the Nanny State!)
Why? I'm sure Lieber is in favor of killing a child if it's a minute short of "newborn."
Me & my siblings were disciplined with the "Rod of Correction" from 1.5 years-old and we grew up respecting & obeying our parents--not 100% but better than average, non-spanked kids.
It's okay to kill your babies, but once you finally get one, do MOT civilize him. Why do people think we are seeing the kinds of wild children that we see on TV? If you don't break the "will" of a child (not his spirit), that child will grow up to be a sociapath.
Just what a three-year old needs. His mom (or father) in prison for a year because she (he) slapped the child's butt. To a three-year old, his parents are very important and to have one go missing for a year could be very damaging to the child. I think this woman should go to prison - she's quite dangerous to society.
PENAL CODE SECTION 11164-11174.3
11164. (a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. (b) The intent and purpose of this article is to protect children from abuse and neglect. In any investigation of suspected child abuse or neglect, all persons participating in the investigation of the case shall consider the needs of the child victim and shall do whatever is necessary to prevent psychological harm to the child victim. (snip) 11165.3. As used in this article, "the willful harming or injuring of a child or the endangering of the person or health of a child," means a situation in which any person willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of the child to be placed in a situation in which his or her person or health is endangered. 11165.4. As used in this article, "unlawful corporal punishment or injury" means a situation where any person willfully inflicts upon any child any cruel or inhuman corporal punishment or injury resulting in a traumatic condition. It does not include an amount of force that is reasonable and necessary for a person employed by or engaged in a public school to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to person or damage to property, for purposes of self-defense, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the pupil, as authorized by Section 49001 of the Education Code. It also does not include the exercise of the degree of physical control authorized by Section 44807 of the Education Code. It also does not include an injury caused by reasonable and necessary force used by a peace officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment as a peace officer.
Okay which would be legal to do:
Your one year old reaches toward a hot sizzling plate set before you at a restaurant. You hurridly slap away his hand....
or you let him reach out and touch the plate receiving a first degree burn....
Damned if you do, damned if you don't!
I guess it's time to start the pool for when one of the clymers here in the People's Republic of New York introduces a similar measure.
This sounds like backending mandatory preschool.
I saw NEA newsletters about a year and a half ago wanting to introduce sleeping facilities at schools. They even did 'studies' on how children aren't getting enough sleep to perform adequately at school.
So you have the USDA grants for 3 meals a day, add in what ever grants for sleeping, they already past schools being able to prescribe meds for children...
This spanking bill sounds like the final end all to remove children from homes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.