[twigs]

From the description, if it's accurate, this woman went over the discipline line and did abuse this child. I'm a firm believer in physical discipline, but I don't believe that means beating. That said, I find it downright scary that this woman was taped in the parking lot. Was she parked right in front? Or are there cameras watching us everywhere?

[CJ Wolf]

"Or are there cameras watching us everywhere?"

Yep there are.

[JosephW]

Many stores have cameras that watch the parking lot. This helps to deter auto theft and those who would break into your vehicle.

Remember this was on private property. The govt had nothing to do with this until the store employees called them. As to why they didn't just go out and stop the abuse: They are probably in the back of the store in a small office, and by time they would get out there, she would be long gone.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Parking lot security cameras prevent and solve a lot of serious, violent crime. Remember the woman whose baby was snatched a few weeks ago, as she turned her back from her car to return a shopping cart a few feet away? The more the merrier. It's not like they're aiming them at your home.

[Dianna]

That said, I find it downright scary that this woman was taped in the parking lot. Was she parked right in front? Or are there cameras watching us everywhere?

We have a Kohl's near us and I've never noticed cameras there, but across the street at the grocery store there are security cameras in the parking lot.

The cameras don't bother me at all. It isn't a state or gov't camera, but installed by the store to ensure their customer's safety. If it makes me uncomfortable I can go elsewhere.

[mutejesseJ]

PHYSICAL discipline sucks! i am as conservative as they come, and hate an adult using their strength to be physical with and on a mere child!

[agrace]

I used to work for a dept chain like Kohls. At our stores, there were a couple outside cameras mounted on the wall outside the building close to the roof. They were positioned to cover as much as possible, if not all, of the parking lot and could zoom in as close as necessary. They were used for security purposes, like when we came and went at opening and closing, they could be set to tape (like all the cameras could) and also to cover incidents of shoplifting, because the apprehensions often took place outside the store (if not in the lobby) and having record of how the incident was handled was always a good idea just in case the shoplifter cried foul. So usually an incident was taped from start to finish - if someone was seen taking and concealing an item, security would roll tape and keep it going til apprehension.

Really not that scary, for privacy reasons, if that's what you meant. Outside cameras are monitoring store property and we didn't make a habit of watching people for the fun of it. If this woman was any kind of trouble in the store - and apparently they were suspicious of her because they refused her return, probably thought she stole it in the first place - they probably taped her leaving the store so they could more easily remember her in the future. I expect they were already familiar with her for one reason or another. You wouldn't believe how many of the usual suspects go to the same stores over and over to pull the same stunts.

In fact, I find it extremely fortunate that this monster's car was parked in such a way that it allowed the camera to get a head-on shot of her beating her child.