“Jesus didn’t say that. He is quoted as saying ‘it would be better’ for them to be drowned.”
A distinction without a difference. He clearly contemplated their deaths for harming children. Someone would have had to do it. He wasn’t gonna miracle that millstone around their necks.
L
I think you’re reading it the way you want.
He did not instruct us to drown them ourselves. If He had thought we should do so, He would have stated it differently.
Except when He was obviously speaking in or of parables, Jesus was pretty clear.