Calif. lawmaker seeks ban on spanking

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - 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.

"They hate that much more than getting spanked," he told reporters Friday in Los Angeles.

California law permits spanking by parents unless the degree of force is excessive or not appropriate for the child's age.

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[peejay 327]

Parents don't need the state of California to tell them how to raise their children. Parents have been successfully raising their children well before the creation of California. There are already statutes on the books against child abuse and most rational people know what child abuse is.

There is no definitive proof that spanking directly breeds and/or leads to increased violence in society at large. This legislation is more about opinion than about facts. This legislation is a loser and I'd be willing to bet it would lose hands down if put to a referendum of the American people.

[rebeccajo 14]

I wonder if Schwarzenegger's kids, after punishment, ever turned around, looked at him and said....

"I'll be bahck".....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

i was waiting for you to find this one

[SoL. 0]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I agree with you Steven.

OMG it seems like everyday they create a new law! What's next?????

Edited January 21, 2007 by Sol-de-Verano

[Heracles 417]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I totally agree but there are lots of people who should not be parents who beat the ###### out of their kids. I saw a couple once close their car boot lid on their kids because he was misbehaving so I approached them and asked them to try that on my hands. The guy and girl then got smart and told me to f--- off and mind my own business so I punch him in the face.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I totally agree but there are lots of people who should not be parents who beat the ###### out of their kids. I saw a couple once close their car boot lid on their kids because he was misbehaving so I approached them and asked them to try that on my hands. The guy and girl then got smart and told me to f--- off and mind my own business so I punch him in the face.

You punched someone in the face? hmmmm...and then what happened? Are you Matako?

[Ban Hammer 13,346]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I totally agree but there are lots of people who should not be parents who beat the ###### out of their kids. I saw a couple once close their car boot lid on their kids because he was misbehaving so I approached them and asked them to try that on my hands. The guy and girl then got smart and told me to f--- off and mind my own business so I punch him in the face.

You punched someone in the face? hmmmm...and then what happened? Are you Matako?

matako just waves his socks in their direction

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I totally agree but there are lots of people who should not be parents who beat the ###### out of their kids. I saw a couple once close their car boot lid on their kids because he was misbehaving so I approached them and asked them to try that on my hands. The guy and girl then got smart and told me to f--- off and mind my own business so I punch him in the face.

You punched someone in the face? hmmmm...and then what happened? Are you Matako?

matako just waves his socks in their direction

I think both Infidel and Matako borrow too much from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

[Heracles 417]

Mark this on your calendar, Charles. This is one where we agree. We already have laws against child abuse. Every parent has crossed the line or neglected their their child to some degree - it becomes an issue over the severity. Let parents use their own common sense and only interfere using the existing laws when there are signs of abuse.

I totally agree but there are lots of people who should not be parents who beat the ###### out of their kids. I saw a couple once close their car boot lid on their kids because he was misbehaving so I approached them and asked them to try that on my hands. The guy and girl then got smart and told me to f--- off and mind my own business so I punch him in the face.

You punched someone in the face? hmmmm...and then what happened? Are you Matako?

This happened in Australia a few years back.

[kim&james 0]

Yep has been in Australia for a while now and from friends who have children, sometimes they need a smack on the bum... we are not talking about beating the kid stupid or anything but even a smack on the bum can get you into pretty serious trouble and removal of the child.

Protection of children is the responsibility of all, but there comes a time when political correctness needs to step back and allow parents to be parents. One of the big bones of contention from my friends is that they feel like they are not in control. Should they do or say anything, the kids threaten to tell the authorities. In Australia, a teenager can live away from home and get many many allowances including all sorts of rent assistance and govt money each fortnight, while the parents get punished to the full extent of the law for child abuse. I know of a few who are at their wits end, when seriously a good kick in the ### would of sorted these little buggers out ages ago. Child abuse laws are there for a really good reason but how far is too far and where do parental rights and responsiblities stop???

[Henia 11]

That is just dumb. Wwe have already child abuse laws and "spanking" a child under the age of 3 is basically child abuse.

[eric&gen 0]

We are slowly being striped of our rights they might as well ban sausage spanking.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Next thing you know teaching a child any discipline at all will be outlawed. Sending them to their room will be called harsh and cruel punishment. Ever noticed that the increased interference of the government into our homes and families has produced an increasingly bad crop of youths? Not sure that one has to do with the other but there was just no way that I was gonna behave like one of those aweful brats you see these days disrespecting adults any chance they have. My dad would have whipped me into shape. Not that I got spanked very often as a child but from time to time I needed it.